Overview
- Polling for 29 municipal corporations is set for January 15 with counting on January 16, covering major bodies including the BMC, PMC and PCMC.
- BJP–NCP tensions sharpened after a BJP minister said allies should respect Savarkar’s ideology, prompting an Ambedkarite rebuttal from Ajit Pawar’s camp and a public caution from BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule over the sub judice irrigation case.
- Ajit Pawar confirmed he will fight the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad contests with the Sharad Pawar–led NCP (SP), criticized local BJP-led civic governance, and later said media had misrepresented his remarks as he declined to escalate disputes before polling.
- At least 67 candidates—45 from the BJP and 22 from the Shiv Sena—were declared elected unopposed, drawing Congress demands for re-elections and NOTA activation and triggering MNS protests over alleged partisan rejection of nominations in Thane.
- The BJP is mounting large rallies and roadshows with Devendra Fadnavis, while rivals emphasize shakha and booth outreach; local turbulence includes BJP workers in Pune shifting to the NCP after a ticket row and a direct BJP–Shinde Sena contest in Navi Mumbai after alliance talks failed.