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The Congress-led alliance crossed the halfway mark of 46 in the 90-member body after 9 out of the BJP’s 22 corporators extended support ahead of the mayoral polls.
The BJP suffered a setback in Bhiwandi-Nizampur. (PTI/File Image)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered a setback ahead of the Mayoral polls in the Bhiwandi-Nizampur civic body, as nine out of the party’s 22 corporators extended support to the Congress-led alliance. This has paved the way for the party to elect its mayor.
The Congress-NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) crossed the halfway mark of 46 in the 90-member body with the support of the Bhiwandi Secular Front (BSF), including the breakaway corporators from the BJP, according to a Congress functionary. “The nine corporators have decided to support us,” he said, adding that differences had cropped up between the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
The split took place after the BJP abruptly changed its mayoral candidate, giving Sneha Mehul Patil a chance instead of Narayan Chaudhary. The latter’s supporters protested against the decision and initiated talks with the Congress-led alliance.
Speaking to the media, Chaudhary said, “The BJP made me a corporator. The party also nominated me as its candidate for the post of Mayor, and I thank the party for that. While I was working to build equations by holding discussions with alliance partners, the party decided to change the mayoral candidate.”
“During this period, people within the party, as well as some from allied parties, did not support me. Therefore, we have decided to hold discussions with the Secular Front,” he said.
Meanwhile, Congress had fielded Tariq Momin as its mayoral candidate. Despite contesting the civic polls together, BJP and Shiv Sena have fielded separate candidates for both posts. A total of 10 nominations were filed for Mayor and seven for Deputy Mayor before Municipal Secretary Ajay Patil, according to The Indian Express.
The Congress, which emerged as the single largest party in the Bhiwandi-Nizampur municipal corporation elections held in January, now looks set to install its own mayor and deputy mayor. The Samajwadi Party had already extended support to Shiv Sena.
Last month’s polls had thrown up a fractured verdict, with the Congress securing the maximum number of 30 seats, followed by the BJP (22), Shiv Sena (12), NCP-SP (12), Samajwadi Party (6), Konark Vikas Aghadi (4), and Bhiwandi Vikas Aghadi (3). One independent candidate also won.
In a bid to keep the BJP led alliance out of power, the Congress, NCP and Samajwadi Party formed the Bhiwandi Secular Front. However, the arrangement ran into trouble after six corporators expressed unhappiness with supporting those deemed to be close to SP MLA Rais Shaikh.
Bhiwandi Nizampur, India, India
February 18, 2026, 20:52 IST
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