MUMBAI: In a bold proclamation ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has forecasted a resounding victory for his alliance, projecting wins between 140 to 150 seats out of the total 227.
Athawale, a key figure in Maharashtra’s political landscape and leader of the Republican Party of India (Athawale), made this confident assertion during a recent public address. He emphasized the strong grassroots support for the Mahayuti alliance, comprising Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP factions loyal to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.
“The people of Mumbai are firmly behind us,” Athawale declared, highlighting the alliance’s development agenda and welfare schemes as major vote-pullers. He criticized the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), accusing them of empty promises and governance failures during their tenure.
The BMC, one of India’s richest civic bodies with an annual budget exceeding Rs 50,000 crore, controls critical services like water supply, roads, and waste management for over 1.2 crore residents. The elections, expected later this year, are seen as a litmus test for the state’s ruling coalition amid ongoing power tussles.
Athawale’s prediction comes at a time when seat-sharing negotiations within Mahayuti are intensifying. Sources indicate Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) eyes the lion’s share, potentially 150 seats, with BJP and others dividing the rest. The minister dismissed internal rift rumors, insisting on unity.
Opposition leaders, including Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), have scoffed at the claim, predicting a MVA sweep. They point to anti-incumbency against the BJP-led central government and local issues like potholes and flooding.
As campaigns heat up, Athawale urged voters to reject ‘divisive politics’ and support leaders delivering tangible results. His upbeat outlook signals high stakes for all contenders in this urban electoral showdown.