Congress has so far received over 1,150 applications from prospective candidates seeking tickets for the forthcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in Mumbai, the party said on Thursday, reported the PTI.
Although the BMC election schedule is yet to be declared, applications have been submitted from all six districts of Mumbai, said city Congress spokesperson Sureshchandra Rajhans in a statement.
The six districts correspond to the Lok Sabha constituencies in the city.
Meanwhile, State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare announced earlier this week that elections for 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats across Maharashtra will be held on 2 December, with the counting of votes scheduled for 3 December. However, he did not release the election timetable for 29 municipal corporations, 32 zilla parishads, and 336 panchayat samitis, where polls are also due.
“The Mumbai Congress has so far received more than 1,150 applications from aspirants seeking the party’s ticket,” Rajhans stated, adding that, owing to the strong response, the deadline for applications may be extended.
Preparations for the civic polls are being overseen by Mumbai Congress president and MP Varsha Gaikwad.
In-charges have been appointed for all 227 wards, and meetings are being conducted across the city to mobilise party workers, Rajhans added.
A majority of Congress workers have reportedly expressed their desire for the party to contest the polls independently, though a final decision on whether to go it alone or enter into an alliance will rest with the central leadership in Delhi, he noted, according to the PTI.
Meanwhile, facing a crucial test ahead of Maharashtra local body elections, the Congress is working to rebuild its organisation and reconnect with urban voters especially ahead of the BMC polls.
In preparation for the polls, the party has formed several committees to strengthen coordination and streamline its election strategy.
According to the PTI, former minister Suresh Shetty will head the manifesto committee, while party spokesperson Sureshchandra Rajhans will lead the war room. MLA Amin Patel has been appointed chief of the election campaign committee, senior leader Manhas Singh will chair the election management committee, and B.K. Tiwari will oversee the disciplinary committee, the party said in a statement.
Mumbai Congress president and MP Varsha Gaikwad expressed confidence that the newly formed teams would work collectively to ensure a strong performance in the civic polls. Party insiders said the committees will focus on drafting the poll manifesto, planning outreach campaigns, and maintaining internal discipline and communication, as per the PTI.
Once a dominant force in Mumbai politics, the Congress has steadily lost ground over the past decade. In the 2017 BMC elections, the party secured only 30 of the 227 seats. Its decline has continued since 2014, with poor results in both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. In the 2024 state elections, it managed to win only 16 of the 101 seats it contested.
(with PTI inputs)
