Political Turmoil Ahead of BMC Election 2026: Senior Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS Leaders Resign Over Ticket Snub
Ahead of BMC Election 2026, several Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS leaders quit their parties after being denied poll tickets, triggering fresh political turmoil in Mumbai.
With tickets for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other municipal corporation elections being announced, all political parties faced some rebellion from unhappy aspirants. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde handled the situation better than their rivals.
In contrast, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by Raj Thackeray struggled to pacify and keep their upset workers together.
According to sources, citing that she was not taken into confidence while allotting seats, MNS leader Snehal Jadhav is said to have expressed her displeasure with the party leadership, and there was buzz of her resigning from the party too. Similarly, two office bearers of the Shiv Sena (UBT) from Worli, an Assembly constituency represented by Aaditya Thackeray, are also said to have stepped down from their official positions.
The problem was not limited to Mumbai. The Shiv Sena (UBT) reportedly faced serious internal issues in Solapur and some other municipal corporations as well.
In another development, Rakhee Jadhav, the Mumbai unit chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), quit the party and joined the BJP. She was later given a BJP ticket. However, former BJP minister Prakash Mehta is said to be unhappy with this decision.
The BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena also saw discontent among some aspirants who did not make it to the final list. But till the time of going to press, there were no reports of party workers or office bearers quitting, except for one case from Borivli. Former BJP corporator Asawari Patil, who was denied a ticket, quit the BJP and joined the Shiv Sena (UBT). She was immediately given a ticket by Uddhav Thackeray’s party.
According to BJP leaders, the party has given local MLAs and office bearers the responsibility of pacifying disgruntled aspirants and leaders. In the case of the MNS, party chief Raj Thackeray personally called a meeting of office-bearers and leaders to limit the damage and send a message of unity.
However, no such visible efforts were seen on the ground from the Shiv Sena (UBT) camp. Party insiders said that while there may have been backdoor efforts, such as phone calls to convince unhappy workers, there was no open or organised outreach to address the unrest.
Former mayor and senior Sena UBT leader Kishori Pendenkar claimed that her party is such that for years, and in every election, there are several aspirants, but only one gets a ticket. “Those who are upset express their displeasure, but from the very next moment start working for the party. After all, they are loyal and committed sainiks,” she said, refuting claims of major unrest and its impact on the poll outcome.
Meanwhile, like in Mumbai, the Congress has decided to contest the Thane polls independently and not as part of the Shiv Sena (UBT)-Sharad Pawar’s NCP and MNS alliance. The BJP and Shinde Sena too could not come to an amicable solution for an alliance in many municipal corporations, including Navi Mumbai and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The political temperature in Mumbai has risen sharply ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Election 2026, as several leaders from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have reportedly resigned after being denied party tickets. The sudden exits have triggered internal unrest and raised questions about candidate selection strategies in two key regional parties ahead of one of India’s most high-stakes civic elections.
The BMC, Asia’s richest municipal body, has long been a prestige battleground in Maharashtra politics. Any sign of internal discord within major parties is closely watched, and the latest resignations point to growing dissatisfaction among grassroots leaders and aspirants.
According to party sources, several local office-bearers and senior ward-level leaders expressed displeasure after their names were missing from the preliminary list of candidates for the upcoming civic polls. Many of them had been preparing for the election for months, engaging in groundwork, public outreach, and local development initiatives.
However, the final ticket distribution reportedly favoured new faces, loyalists, and candidates with perceived “winnability,” leaving several experienced leaders sidelined. The decision did not go down well with those who felt overlooked despite years of party service.
In response, a number of leaders submitted their resignations, while others are believed to be in talks with rival political parties or considering contesting as independents.
For the Shiv Sena (UBT), the resignations come at a sensitive time. The party is attempting to reassert its influence in Mumbai after recent political setbacks. Civic elections are seen as crucial for rebuilding organisational strength and demonstrating mass support in its traditional stronghold.
Party insiders admit that balancing internal loyalty with electoral strategy has been challenging. While leadership aims to field candidates with strong local appeal, sidelining long-time workers risks alienating the cadre base.
Political observers warn that such exits could weaken the party’s booth-level machinery if not addressed quickly. Even a small erosion of grassroots support can have significant consequences in tightly contested wards.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, led by Raj Thackeray, is facing a similar situation. Although the party has been trying to regain relevance in Mumbai’s civic politics, ticket denial has reportedly triggered frustration among several local leaders who believed the BMC election was an opportunity for resurgence.
Some MNS leaders who resigned reportedly accused the party leadership of lack of transparency in candidate selection. Others expressed concern that the party was not adequately rewarding loyal workers who stood by it during difficult political phases.
The resignations have added pressure on the MNS leadership to prevent further fallout and retain its core support base.
Rival parties are closely monitoring developments, viewing the resignations as an opportunity to strengthen their own electoral prospects. Disgruntled leaders often bring with them local influence, voter networks, and organisational experience—valuable assets in civic elections where margins can be narrow.
Sources indicate that some resigned leaders are already in discussions with other political formations, while others may contest independently, potentially splitting votes and altering ward-level dynamics.
The exits underscore a recurring challenge in Indian elections—managing ticket aspirations within large and competitive parties. As the BMC election draws closer, both Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS will need to engage in damage control to prevent further erosion of trust among party workers.
Political analysts believe that the coming weeks will be crucial. How party leaderships respond—through negotiations, assurances, or strategic reshuffles—could determine whether the resignations remain isolated incidents or escalate into broader internal revolts.
With infrastructure, governance, and Mumbai’s civic future at stake, the BMC Election 2026 is shaping up to be a fiercely contested battle. Internal unity will be as important as public messaging for political parties hoping to secure control of the civic body.
As campaigning intensifies, voter attention will remain fixed not only on manifestos and promises but also on how parties manage internal dissent. The latest resignations serve as a reminder that in elections of this scale, organisational cohesion can be the difference between victory and defeat.
