Beyond Mumbai Setback, Congress Proves It Still Counts in Maharashtra Civic Polls
Congress leads in 171 Maharashtra civic wards, outshining Thackerays and Pawars despite Mumbai weakness.
The Congress may be struggling to make an impact in Mumbai, but the broader picture from Maharashtra’s civic polls tells a different story. While the party remains stuck in single digits in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), it has managed to assert itself as a stronger statewide presence than traditional regional heavyweights like the Thackerays and the Pawars.
As per trends available till early afternoon, Congress is leading in 171 wards across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra. This places it third overall, behind the BJP with a commanding lead of 848 wards and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena with 213. The numbers underline Congress’ continued relevance at the grassroots level, even as it falters in high-profile urban centres.
The results also highlight a reshaping of regional politics. Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction has outperformed Sharad Pawar’s diminished group, while the Thackerays have seen their influence weaken across the state. Though Mumbai remains relatively favourable terrain for the Thackeray factions, their statewide footprint appears significantly reduced compared to both the BJP and Congress.
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However, Congress’ poor showing in major cities cannot be ignored. In Mumbai and Pune, the party is leading in only five wards each, while in Nashik and Jalna it has marginal leads in four wards. Its performance is even weaker in Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Kalyan-Dombivli, and several other urban centres, where it has either minimal or zero leads.
In contrast, Congress has delivered strong performances in select municipal corporations. The party is leading in Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Amravati, Chandrapur, and Latur, raising hopes of controlling these civic bodies. It is also placed second in major cities like Nagpur, Kolhapur, and Akola, indicating steady voter support beyond metropolitan regions.
While civic polls are local in nature, the results carry broader political significance. They reflect Congress’ enduring organisational strength at the grassroots and provide crucial data for future electoral strategies. Despite its Mumbai disappointment, the party has demonstrated that it remains a key player in Maharashtra’s evolving political landscape.
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