As Mumbai heads toward what could be one of its most consequential civic elections in decades, the focus has shifted to an extraordinary and unprecedented reality — the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has gone nearly nine years without an elected body. With the polls likely to be held by January 2026, the political atmosphere across the city is heating up rapidly.
The last time Mumbaikars voted for their civic representatives was February 21, 2017, when the country’s wealthiest municipal corporation witnessed an intense contest for its 227 seats. That election saw a record 55.53% voter turnout, the highest in many years.
When the results were declared, the then-undivided Shiv Sena topped the charts with 84 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made one of its biggest urban gains, jumping from 31 to 82 seats. With no party reaching the majority mark of 114, the city witnessed a hung House. Eventually, the BJP extended support to the Shiv Sena, paving the way for the party to install its Mayor. Meanwhile, the Congress won 31 seats, the undivided NCP secured 9, and the MNS slipped to just 7.
That elected body completed its five-year term in March 2022, after which the BMC came under the control of an appointed Administrator. What began as a stop-gap arrangement has now stretched for more than two and a half years due to a series of hurdles — including court battles, changes in ward boundaries, and reservation-related legal complications.
The extended period of administrative rule has raised questions about urban governance in India’s financial capital, where the municipal corporation plays a critical role in infrastructure, public health, water supply, and day-to-day civic management.
With the political landscape in Maharashtra dramatically transformed since 2017 — including splits within major parties and new alliances taking shape — the upcoming BMC polls are expected to be high-stakes and fiercely fought. For political parties, the 2017 results continue to serve as a strategic benchmark, showcasing how close the competition once was and hinting at another possible cliffhanger.
