Mumbai, Jan 17 (NationPress) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated on Saturday that the BJP's 45 percent vote share in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections highlights a significant mandate for the party. He noted that even though the BJP contested fewer seats than Shiv Sena (UBT), it achieved a much stronger strike rate and garnered substantial public support.

“Many critics claim that in 2017 we won 82 seats and now we have 89, so is this really a victory? I would like to clarify that in 2017 we contested 227 seats and secured 82, whereas this time, we only contested 135 seats and won 89,” Fadnavis remarked during a speech to party supporters.

“The BJP has received 45 percent of the votes, while Shiv Sena (UBT), which contested 30 more seats than us, has a vote share of only 27 percent. This distinctly illustrates the strength of our mandate and the robust support we have garnered,” he further commented.

Fadnavis also expressed that it has been the party's aspiration to become the single largest entity in Mumbai since the BJP set up its organization in the city, a goal that has now been realized.

He emphasized that the ruling Mahayuti has secured a decisive mandate in the civic elections. Fadnavis noted that the BJP has consistently been the largest party in Mumbai during Assembly elections in 2014, 2019, and 2024, narrowly missing the top position in the 2017 BMC polls by just two seats.

“We have recognized our strength, and the people of Mumbai have endorsed our development agenda. The BJP has now won 89 seats, and in numerous constituencies, we lost by very narrow margins. We could have surpassed the 100-seat mark had we not experienced those losses,” he continued.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance has achieved a clear majority in the civic body, even as the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena lost a few seats by slim margins. He mentioned that in the past three BMC elections, the largest party had never secured as many as 89 seats, and that the BJP accomplished this despite contesting fewer seats.

He remarked that the BJP has received backing from all demographics and regions of the city. “We have triumphed in slums, high-rise buildings, Koliwadas, and chawls. Citizens from various linguistic backgrounds have supported us. This victory belongs to Team Mumbai,” he concluded.

Fadnavis reiterated that the government is committed to transforming Mumbai into a world-class, clean, and livable city, ensuring transparent and citizen-centric civic administration, completing ongoing projects within two to three years, and launching new initiatives following the mayor's announcement.

“Mumbai will not come to a halt. We will collaborate with all those who wish to support our efforts to enhance Mumbai,” he stated.