Thackerays Fall in BMC — But Vow to Fight Back
Thackeray cousins pledge to intensify Marathi identity battle despite losing Mumbai’s civic bastion after 25 years.
- BJP–Shinde alliance seizes control of BMC with 118 seats.
- Uddhav Sena wins 65 wards; Raj Thackeray’s MNS limited to 6.
- Thackerays vow to continue pro-Marathi politics in Mumbai.
- Raj accuses Mahayuti of “harassing and exploiting” Marathis.
GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 17th Jan: The Thackeray cousins have vowed to carry forward their aggressive Marathi identity politics even after losing control of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), India’s richest civic body, which their family dominated for 25 years.
After the BJP–Eknath Shinde Shiv Sena alliance wrested control of the BMC, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) declared that the struggle was far from over. In a defiant post featuring a photograph of the late Balasaheb Thackeray, the party wrote: “This fight isn’t over yet.”
Despite finishing with 65 of the 227 wards, Shiv Sena (UBT) insisted that it would continue its battle for Marathi rights. “The fight will continue until Marathis receive the respect they deserve,” the party said.
Raj Thackeray, leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), struck an even sharper tone. Though his party managed to win only six seats, he vowed not to retreat.
“If anything happens against the Marathi people, our corporators will bring those in power to their knees,” he thundered.
Calling his movement a long-term struggle, Raj said: “Our fight is for the Marathi people, Marathi language, Marathi identity and a prosperous Maharashtra. This fight is our very existence.”
He accused the Mahayuti government of systematically “harassing and exploiting” Marathis, especially in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). “We must stand firmly with our people. Elections will come and go, but our breath is Marathi,” he said.
Raj also announced that MNS would conduct an internal review, rebuild from the grassroots, and reorganise itself for future battles.
BMC Election 2026 Results
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance swept civic polls, winning 25 of 29 municipal bodies across Maharashtra. In Mumbai, the alliance secured 118 seats, crossing the majority mark of 114.
BJP: 89 seats
Eknath Shinde Shiv Sena: 29 seats
The BMC, with an annual budget of over ₹74,400 crore, saw 1,700 candidates contesting 227 seats after a nine-year gap and a four-year delay.
In 2017, the undivided Shiv Sena had dominated the BMC. This time, internal splits and BJP’s urban surge reshaped Mumbai’s political map.
Despite defeat, the Thackerays have signalled that their fight for Marathi pride in Mumbai is only intensifying — not ending.
