Four-member Ward System (Except BMC)

The Maharashtra government implemented a four-member ward system for most municipal corporations in the state, with the exception of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). While the ruling parties say that this action will improve democracy, the opposition has expressed worries about the delay in civic elections and asked why the administration has not approached the court to speed up the election process.

Updates on BMC Ward Boundaries

Source: ^[3]

• Rectified Boundaries: The BMC submitted a final draft of rectified boundaries for its 227 electoral wards to the State Election Commission (SEC). Approximately 20% of ward boundaries had been modified. ^{[4] [5]}
• Changes and Reasons:
  • Boundaries were updated based on voter additions and deletions in specific areas.
  • Changes consider population shifts due to redevelopment, infrastructure projects, and slum rehabilitation schemes.
• Extent of Change: About 25% of ward boundaries, affecting around 60 wards, have been altered.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has 24 administrative wards, which are further divided into 227 electoral wards (or constituencies) for elections, each with its own officer for local administration and services, with boundaries which have been redrawn in early 2025.

Process of Delimitation

• Directives from SEC: In August, the SEC instructed municipal corporations to start the delimitation process for ward boundaries. ^[6]
• Criteria for Changes: ^[7]
  • Adjustments were based on population changes, as shown in updated census data.
  • Significant changes (over 10%) in a constituency's population triggered boundary modifications.
• Public Input: Once the SEC approves the draft, suggestions and objections from the public were invited.

Population and Wards

• Population Basis: Each ward is designed to have approximately 54,000 residents. Adjustments accounted for population growth in suburban areas and decline in the island city. ^[8]
• Impact on Corporators: Delimitation led to the division of some suburban wards into four parts, affecting their representation.

Ward Structure Event

Poll Event

Results by alliance or party

Source

Alliance/ Party				Popular vote			Seats			SR
				Votes	%	±pp	Contested	Won	+/−	%
	BJP + SHS		BJP	1,540,781	28.13		135 [t]	89	7	65.93
			SHS	698,253	12.75		89 [u]	29		32.58
		Total		2,239,034	40.88		224 [v] [w]	118		52.68
	SS(UBT) + MNS + NCP(SP)		SS(UBT)	1,323,279	24.16		160 [x]	65		40.63
			MNS	332,960	6.08		53 [y]	6	1	11.32
			NCP-SP	30,573	0.56		11	1		9.09
		Total		1,686,812	30.80		224 [z]	72		32.14
	INC + VBA + RSPS		INC	242,646	9.31		151	24	7	15.89
			VBA				46	0
			RSPS				2	0
		Total					199 [aa]	24		12.06
	CPI(M)						9	0
	NCP			24,691	0.95		37	3		8.11
	SP			15,162	0.58		30	2	4	6.67
	AIMIM			68,072	2.61			8	6
	ABS							0	1
	Others							13
	NOTA
Total					100%	—		227	—	—

Results by ward

Mayor

• Ritu Tawde ( BJP ), corporator from Ward 132, was selected as the mayoral candidate of the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
• She was elected unopposed, after the Shiv Sena (UBT) decided not to field a challenger.
• The mayor’s post was reserved for a woman candidate from the open category through a lottery system. ^[32]

Deputy Mayor

• Sanjay Shankar Ghadi ( Shiv Sena – Shinde faction ), corporator from Ward 5, was chosen as the deputy mayoral candidate. ^[33]

• Ghadi will serve as Deputy Mayor for 15 months, with the Shiv Sena planning to rotate the post among its corporators.

• The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a combined strength of 118 corporators, crossing the halfway mark of 114.

Election Schedule

• The Mumbai mayoral election was scheduled for 11 February 2026, the last date for withdrawal of nominations.

Significance

• Ritu Tawde’s election makes her the first BJP Mayor of Mumbai in 44 years.
• The outcome ended the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s (erstwhile undivided Shiv Sena) uninterrupted control of the mayor’s post since 1997.