A sense of uncertainty loomed over young voters in Mumbai as they headed to the polls for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election on January 15, 2026. Many expressed hopes of seeing a “well-educated person” step into the role of BMC Mayor, but confusion was rife as voters grappled with the multitude of alliances vying for influence in India’s richest civic body.
On election day, approximately 1,700 candidates were in contention across Mumbai’s 227 wards. Notably, The Hindu reported from wards 9 and 21. In ward 9, candidates from the BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT), AAP, and Congress were competing, while ward 21 featured a mix of BJP, MNS, and BSP candidates.
Voters Payal Dongre, 20, and Rahul Khernar, 30, both residents of Borivali, voiced their apprehensions about the election process. Dongre, voting for the first time, remarked, “BJP is communal, MNS is not less communal either. So how to decide the right candidate? I could only choose the least bad.” She added that she hopes for better employment opportunities for Mumbaikars. Conversely, Khernar expressed some contentment with BJP’s developmental agenda but expressed concerns about candidates who switch allegiances. “We elect one candidate and later see that he is entering the party we don’t want. No credibility or integrity is left in candidates or their parties,” he lamented.
The dynamics in ward 9 reflect this concern, as BJP candidate Shweta Korgaonkar, who won on a Congress ticket in the 2017 elections, is now contesting on the BJP platform. This time, she faces off against BJP’s Shivanand Shetty, a former Congress corporator, and competitors from Shiv Sena (UBT) and BSP. The competition in ward 21 is equally fierce, as the BJP aims to regain control against Congress and BSP, putting forward former corporator Leena Deherkar as their candidate.
In the 2017 BMC elections, the BJP achieved its highest seat count to date with 82 seats, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) maintained a lead with 84 seats. Congress and MNS lagged significantly behind, with 31 and 7 seats, respectively. The shift in voter dynamics indicates an increasing presence for the BJP in a historically Shiv Sena-dominated landscape.
A Kandivali-based software engineer, opting for anonymity, noted, “All parties have their own voter base, and these alliances of convenience are protecting these bases. We are just fillers who are voting based on hope.”
Young voter Daisy Lal, 21, from Mahavirnagar, is drawn to BJP’s development agenda, stating, “Comparing four years of the BJP with 25 years of Uddhav Thackeray and the family, development has been more visible during the BJP’s tenure.” While she doesn’t fully embrace Hindutva, she acknowledges that “sometimes development needs to be prioritized.”
Voters also observed that both the BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) are framing their campaigns around communal identities-Hindutva for the BJP and Marathi pride for Shiv Sena (UBT). The BJP-led Mahayuti insists on a “Hindu-Marathi” Mayor, while Shiv Sena (UBT) asserts its commitment to a Marathi candidate. Nevertheless, a growing segment of Gen-Z voters is advocating for an “educated Mayor” focused on effective policy-making.
As Mumbai’s young voters navigate this intricate political landscape, their priorities reveal a collective desire for credible leadership in a time of rising uncertainty.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/maharashtra-civic-polls-young-voters-left-confused-over-new-alliances-in-mumbai/article70512642.ece
Category : Mumbai
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Publish Date: 2026-01-15 23:42:00
