Maharashtra Local Body Election

Sunetra Pawar is set to take oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Saturday at 5 pm, according to sources. She has accepted the proposal for her elevation and will continue to handle the Excise and Sports ministries.

On this special report, Milind Khandekar, Managing Editor of TAXA, reflects on the sudden demise of NCP leader Ajit Pawar, describing it as a 'very, very sad day' for Maharashtra politics. Khandekar notes that 'he was the true inheritor of Sharad Pawar' and highlights how Ajit Pawar managed the party's grassroots operations for over 35 years. The discussion covers Ajit Pawar's political journey from becoming an MP in 1991 to his role as a perennial Deputy Chief Minister who never achieved his ambition of leading the state as Chief Minister. Khandekar also analyzes the recent shifts in Maharashtra's political landscape, including the 2024 assembly elections and the 2022 rebellion where Ajit Pawar joined the NDA. The segment explores the potential for a unified NCP following recent signs of the Pawar family factions coming together during local body and Pune elections, marking a significant turning point for the party's future.

On this Special Report, the focus is on the political fallout in Maharashtra following the BMC poll results. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has launched a scathing attack on his political rivals, reiterating allegations of 'vote chori' or vote theft. Addressing his party cadre in Mumbai, Thackeray stated, 'You can buy votes, but how can you buy spirit?' He expressed disappointment that 'traitors' from within, rather than outsiders, were being used in an attempt to finish the Thackeray name and legacy. While Thackeray did not explicitly name Eknath Shinde, his remarks were clearly directed at the Shinde faction and the BJP, whom he referred to as outsiders trying to divide the Shiv Sena. Thackeray appreciated his workers for resisting these pressures and vowed to continue the fight. The programme examines these comments as the mayoral race begins in Mumbai amidst a highly charged political atmosphere.

On this Special Report, the focus is on the political developments following the recently concluded BMC election summit in Maharashtra. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has addressed rumours of a rift within the Mahayuti alliance regarding the appointment of the next Mumbai Mayor. Fadnavis stated, 'Mayor decision will be collective,' emphasizing that he, Eknath Shinde, and other alliance leaders will jointly decide on the candidate. The report highlights that despite rumours of the Shiv Sena and BJP not being on the same page, the Chief Minister maintains there is no dispute. Analysis suggests that the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, is in a strong position to negotiate as no party can appoint a mayor without their support. The process is expected to take 15 to 20 days as official reservations for the mayoral post are yet to be declared. The programme explores the internal dynamics of the Mahayuti allies as they navigate the power-sharing agreement for the crucial mayoral post in Mumbai.

This report covers the landmark results of the 2026 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, where the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance successfully ended the decades-long dominance of the Thackeray family. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the verdict, stating that 'People have blessed the NDA for good governance and that the NDA's bond with the people has deepened.' The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 89 seats, while Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena also secured significant gains to help the alliance surpass the majority mark. In contrast, the Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, faced a major setback as the Sena UBT won 65 seats and the MNS managed only 6. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, credited with leading the campaign, thanked voters for endorsing the development agenda. The programme also highlights the upcoming meeting between Uddhav Thackeray and his newly elected councillors following the defeat.

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance dominated 25 of 29 municipal elections, causing setbacks for the Thackeray and Pawar factions in their traditional bastions.

In this news segment, senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Avinash Adik discusses the political fallout following the party's performance in the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad elections. Speaking on the impact of the Pawar family reunion, Adik states, 'Finally, a decision was made, but had it been made a little earlier, maybe we would have had better results.' He acknowledges that the delay in the two factions coming together hindered their electoral prospects and admits the party organization failed to support Ajit Pawar effectively. Adik clarifies the ideological stance of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, confirming their alignment with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and asserting they are not anti-BJP. The discussion also touches upon the future of the Pawar legacy as Sharad Pawar turns 85, with Adik emphasizing that the leadership must decide the next steps for the family and the party's survival in Maharashtra's evolving political landscape.

This special report highlights the political resurgence of Devendra Fadnavis following the Mahayuti alliance's decisive victory in the Maharashtra civic body polls. Described as the 'man of the match' and 'man of the series,' Fadnavis successfully led the campaign to end the Thackeray family's three-decade-long control over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The report notes that Fadnavis 'perfected a winning formula, a mix of Hindutva and Vikas,' effectively consolidating various castes and overcoming regional identity politics. After a setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Fadnavis conducted 37 rallies across the state to secure this comeback. The programme traces his journey from a young councillor to his current standing as the Chief Minister and the dominant political force in India's second-largest state, having successfully navigated the challenges of coalition politics and internal leadership dynamics.

Preeti Choudhry anchors this Special Report from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation building as Maharashtra civic poll results indicate a significant political shift. The Mahayuti alliance, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and Eknath Shinde, secures a dominant position across 29 municipalities. Analysts Rajdeep Sardesai, Sahil Joshi, and Dhawal Kulkarni join the discussion to examine the BJP's emergence as the primary force in India's wealthiest civic body. The report details the impact on the Thackeray and Pawar families, noting a decline in traditional regional brand influence. Devendra Fadnavis is identified as the architect of this electoral strategy, with the panel evaluating his potential transition into national politics by 2029. Key topics include the fragmentation of the Muslim vote, the systematic dismantling of regional rivals like the Shiv Sena and NCP, and the evolving political landscape of Mumbai. The program concludes that the BJP's urban appeal and strategic alliances have fundamentally altered the Maharashtra political map, forcing the opposition to reinvent their strategies.

The top focus of this episode of To The Point is the Maharashtra civic body poll results. The Mahayuti alliance, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, has secured a dominant position across 29 municipalities.

On this Special Report, reporter Vidya provides live updates on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election results as counting continues past the expected schedule. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has seen a 'saffron sweep' across other Maharashtra municipalities, the battle for India's richest civic body remains neck-and-neck. Vidya notes that 'in these 10 wards especially, the technical snag is one of the reasons being cited for this entire hitch' in declaring final results. The transcript highlights that counting has been completed in 187 of the 227 wards, with 30 wards still underway. The BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena alliance is currently shy of the halfway mark in Mumbai, despite leading in trends. The programme explores the reasons behind the delay, including low margins leading to recounts and display issues at counting centres like Wilson College.

This report covers the significant victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Maharashtra municipal elections, where the party emerged as the leading force across 29 municipalities. The speaker highlights a 'tectonic shift' in the state's political landscape, noting that the 'Pawar brand' has been significantly impacted in traditional strongholds like Pimpri Chinchwad and Pune. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacted to the results, stating, 'The enthusiastic people of the state have given their blessings to the NDA's pro-people and good governance agenda.' The bulletin further discusses the performance of the Mahayuti alliance and the challenges faced by the opposition, including the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena and the MNS. While the BMC results remained developing, the overall trend indicated a strong mandate for the NDA's vision for development and performance. The programme also examines the shifting alliances and the diminishing influence of established political families in the region following this electoral outcome.

The Mahayuti alliance, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has secured a majority in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other Maharashtra local body elections.

The Mahayuti alliance, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has secured a majority in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other Maharashtra local body elections. This result enables the BJP to appoint its first Mayor in the Mumbai civic body. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed supporters at the BJP headquarters, attributing the win to the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The election results indicate a shift in political control across Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik, affecting the influence of the Thackeray and Pawar families. The report includes ground coverage of celebrations and statements from political figures, including Amruta Fadnavis. Analysis focuses on the performance of Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS, the 'triple engine government' structure, and voter trends among youth and women. Furthermore, the programme covers a Supreme Court notice issued to Karishma Kapoor concerning a family dispute and new Election Commission directives for Zilla Parishad polls. The administration intends to focus on infrastructure and basic facilities for citizens.

This special report covers the landmark victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The speaker highlights how the alliance, led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde, secured 117 seats, effectively ending the long-standing dominance of the Thackeray family over Asia's richest municipality. The report notes that 'Devendra Fadnavis has made history by winning the BMC and dethroning the Thakuris', marking a significant shift in Maharashtra's political landscape. The bulletin further traces Fadnavis's journey from being Nagpur's youngest mayor to becoming the state's Chief Minister, emphasizing his role as the 'man of the moment' and a 'force multiplier' alongside the Ladki Behen scheme. The segment also touches upon the decimation of the Pawar bastion in Pune and the poor performance of the Congress party, which managed only 15 seats in the 227-member BMC house.

This special report covers the landmark results of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, where the ruling Mahayuti alliance has emerged victorious. The verdict marks a historic shift as Mumbai is poised to get its first-ever BJP mayor, establishing what is described as a 'triple-engine government' with the BJP-led alliance in power at the Centre, the state, and now the civic body. The report highlights the setback for the Thackeray cousins, noting that the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS alliance failed to meet expectations. Amidst the celebrations, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has raised allegations of electoral irregularities, claiming 'Thousands of people have gone missing who have voted in the Vidhan Sabha' from opposition strongholds. While the BJP celebrates a 'saffron surge' in the financial capital, the opposition has labeled the election process a 'vote chori,' with Rahul Gandhi accusing the Election Commission of gaslighting citizens. The mandate effectively ends the long-standing dominance of the Thackeray family over India's richest municipal corporation.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dialled state BJP chief and congratulated him after Mahayuti registered a huge victory in the BMC polls.

On this news bulletin, Rajdeep Sardesai provides a comprehensive analysis of the Maharashtra local body election results as the Mahayuti alliance secures a massive lead. Sardesai notes that the 'BJP is set to win about 20+ municipal corporations' and highlights the party's dominance across Vidarbha, Marathwada, and the Mumbai-Konkan belt. The discussion addresses the 'marker pen controversy' and the Election Commission's accountability regarding voting procedures. Sardesai observes a significant shift in the state's political landscape, suggesting the 'end of regional satrapi raj' as traditional strongholds of the Pawar and Thackeray families face major setbacks. The programme further explores the failure of the opposition's 'uncle-nephew' alliance and the voter's preference for consistency over family-based politics. The analysis concludes with the need for new leadership within the opposition to counter the BJP's 'triple engine' momentum in Maharashtra.

On this news bulletin, the focus is on the Maharashtra local body election results where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a significant lead in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. Avinash Adik, Spokesperson for the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), conceded the setback, stating, 'I will not hesitate to say that these results are most unexpected.' He noted that while the party was banking heavily on these regions where Ajit Pawar had put in maximum effort, they must now return to the drawing board to introspect on the loss of their traditional strongholds. The discussion also features Shweta Shalini of the BJP, who attributes the victory to the 'triple engine' government's vision and the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis. Furthermore, the panel addresses a serious lapse by the Election Commission regarding the use of marker pens for indelible ink, which has sparked controversy over the integrity of the voting process in Maharashtra.

On this Special Report, Preeti Choudhry analyses the high-stakes battle for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and 29 other municipalities across Maharashtra. As counting begins, Choudhry cautions viewers to 'take everything with a pinch of salt' regarding exit polls, despite projections suggesting a sweep for the Mahayuti alliance. The programme examines whether the BJP can cross the 100-ward mark and emerge as the single largest party in Mumbai, a city governed by the Thackerays for over three decades. Key data from Access My India is discussed, highlighting a potential counter-polarisation where 68% of non-Marathi speaking voters backed the Mahayuti. The analysis also covers the 'Mamu factor', noting that 41% of Muslim voters reportedly backed the Congress over the Shiv Sena (UBT), and explores the impact of Raj Thackeray's controversial remarks on South Indian voters. From Pune, Omkar Wambley reports on the unique NCP faction alliance against the BJP in the local body elections.