BJP Releases First List Of 66 Candidates For BMC Elections

The BJP announced 66 candidates for the upcoming BMC elections, signalling the official launch of its campaign in Mumbai.

Key names include Tejasvee Ghosalkar, who recently quit Shiv Sena UBT, Ganesh Khankar, Manisha Yadav, Milind Shinde, and Akash Purohit, son of former party minister Raj Purohit.

A major highlight is Ravi Raja, the former Leader of Opposition in the BMC, who defected from the Congress and will contest from Ward No 185 in Dharavi.

This move is seen as a direct challenge to the Congress stronghold in the area.

Other notable candidates include Neil Somaiya (Ward 107), son of former MP Kirit Somaiya, and Makarand Narvekar (Ward 226) and Harshita Narvekar (Ward 227), both connected to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, alongside Tejinder Singh Tiwana (Ward 47).

The BJP’s announcement comes amid ongoing seat-sharing talks with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

While both parties are allies in the MahaYuti, they have yet to finalise an arrangement due to tough negotiations.

BJP insiders said the party aims to contest 150 seats and is unwilling to meet the Shinde faction’s demand for 100 seats. A possible deal could see the BJP fighting 140 seats, leaving 87 for the Shinde faction.

The 2026 BMC elections present a transformed political map in Mumbai.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray will contest together, following their recent alliance announcement.

Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar’s NCP will contest independently, having refused to ally with the BJP due to the presence of Nawab Malik.

The NCP has fielded three members of the Malik family in response, including Sana Malik’s relatives.

Polling Schedule and Election Strategy

The State Election Commission will also hold voting for the BMC and 28 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra on January 15, 2026, and will announce the results on January 16, 2026.

The BJP’s first candidate list highlights the party’s aggressive strategy to secure a decisive victory in Mumbai’s municipal elections.

By placing high-profile candidates in key wards and leveraging recent political defections, the party aims to consolidate its presence in the city and challenge its rivals effectively.

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