Maharashtra Civic Polls 2026: Mumbai, Pune Brace for Political Showdown

• Voting for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra is underway, with 2,869 seats across 893 wards.
• The BMC election is a crucial test for the Thackeray brothers to reclaim Bal Thackeray's legacy and Shiv Sena's prestige.
• Eknath Shinde aims to prove himself as Bal Thackeray's true successor and regain ground from BJP.
• BJP, allied with Shinde's Shiv Sena, seeks a major victory, contesting 137 of 227 BMC seats.
• NCP's Ajit Pawar faction contests alone, eyeing gains in Pune, where it previously governed.

Why It Matters: Maharashtra's civic elections are a major political test for key parties and leaders, especially in Mumbai and Pune.