Mumbai, Dec 17 : Invoking the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) has declared the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, along with polls for 28 other civic bodies, as a decisive battle to protect Mumbai from being “carved away” from Maharashtra. In a Saamana editorial, the party described the elections as a struggle for the very existence of the Marathi Manoos.
The editorial warned that if Mumbai built on the sacrifices of 106 martyrs is lost, the Marathi people could face “a lifetime of slavery.” It urged Marathi citizens to take up the “Bhavani sword of identity” and enter the electoral fray, chanting “Har Har Mahadev!”
According to the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has scheduled elections for 29 municipal corporations—including Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar—on January 15, 2026, with results on January 16. The editorial alleged that the Fadnavis-Shinde government deliberately delayed the polls to facilitate alleged “looting” through administrators, and only acted following a Supreme Court directive mandating completion of local elections by January 31.
The party also criticised the ruling coalition for violating the Model Code of Conduct, accusing ministers of flouting laws with impunity while claiming the poll body acts as a “pet cat” of the authorities. Shiv Sena (UBT) highlighted the issue of voter list discrepancies, alleging over 15 lakh duplicate voters across Maharashtra, including 1.5 lakh in Mumbai, and called the SEC’s measures to flag duplicates insufficient.
The editorial condemned last-minute government resolutions and development projects as attempts to influence voters before the code took effect. It also questioned the feasibility of election expenditure limits, alleging that ruling alliance candidates spent Rs 100–150 crore per municipality in past local polls, with votes reportedly being purchased for up to Rs 20,000.
Framing the elections as a struggle against alleged attempts to “carve Mumbai away from Maharashtra” or “auction the city,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) urged the Marathi community to remain vigilant and ensure victory.