‘BJP–Shinde Sena Set for Big BMC Win’: Exit Polls
Reunited Thackerays trail as saffron alliance eyes clear majority in Asia’s richest civic body
- Four exit polls project a sweeping win for BJP–Shinde Sena in BMC polls
- Majority mark of 114 in the 227-ward body expected to be comfortably crossed
- Thackeray-led opposition alliance projected to trail despite Maratha–Muslim support
- Youth, women, and North Indian voters tipped to back BJP strongly
GG News Bureau
Pune, 15th Jan: The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are set for a decisive victory in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, according to four exit polls, signalling a major political shift in Asia’s richest civic body.
The 227-member BMC has a majority mark of 114. The Axis My India and JVC exit polls have projected a sweeping win for the saffron alliance. JVC has forecast 138 seats for the BJP and Shinde Sena, while Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) together are expected to secure 59 seats. Congress is projected to win 23 seats.
Axis My India estimates that the BJP–Sena alliance may secure between 131 and 151 seats, while the UBT-led opposition bloc could be limited to 58–68 seats. The Sakal Poll predicts 119 seats for the ruling alliance and around 75 for UBT, with Congress capped at about 20 seats. Janmat has projected 138 seats for the BJP–Sena combine and 62 for the Thackeray-led opposition.
Voting pattern projections suggest strong support for the BJP among North Indian voters, youth and women. Axis My India projects that 68 per cent of North Indian votes could go to the BJP, while the Shiv Sena may receive 19 per cent and Congress around 2 per cent.
Among Maratha voters, the Shiv Sena (UBT)–MNS combine is projected to receive about 49 per cent support, with the BJP at 30 per cent and Congress at 8 per cent. Minority votes are expected to tilt towards the Congress, with around 41 per cent of Muslim votes projected to go to the party, followed by Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena at 28 per cent. Among Christian voters, Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) are projected to be locked in a close contest with around 29 per cent support each.
The BMC, which has been under Shiv Sena’s control for decades, last went to polls in 2017 when the undivided Sena retained power. Eight years later, following the party’s split and the BJP’s expanded footprint in Mumbai, exit polls suggest a potential political realignment.
Polling was also held today in 28 other civic bodies across Maharashtra, all pending since 2017. The counting of votes is scheduled for tomorrow.
