Malegaon Municipal Corporation Election 2026: Complete Political Picture as Congress, AIMIM, BJP, NCP, Shiv Sena, UBT and MNS Prepare

Ahead of the Malegaon Municipal Corporation Election 2026, all major parties including Congress, AIMIM, BJP, NCP, Shiv Sena, UBT and MNS gear up for a high-stakes civic battle.

December 29, 2025 | Malegaon- The political temperature in Malegaon has begun to rise sharply as preparations intensify for the Malegaon Municipal Corporation Election 2026. With all major political parties including Congress, AIMIM, BJP, Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), Shiv Sena (UBT), and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena gearing up for the contest, the civic polls are expected to be one of the most closely watched elections in North Maharashtra.

Malegaon has traditionally been a politically sensitive and complex constituency due to its unique social composition, strong minority presence, and history of multi-cornered contests. Unlike many other cities, elections in Malegaon are rarely bipolar, with regional, national, and community-based parties all playing decisive roles. This makes alliance formation, candidate selection, and local credibility extremely important.

The Congress and AIMIM are expected to be key players once again. AIMIM has maintained a strong base in Malegaon municipal politics, particularly in minority-dominated wards, while Congress continues to retain influence through legacy leadership and local organisational networks. Political observers believe that the relationship between these two parties, whether competitive or cooperative, could significantly impact the final outcome.

The BJP is also preparing aggressively, aiming to expand its footprint in Malegaon by focusing on development narratives, governance issues, and organisational strength. Senior BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, are expected to play an important role in shaping strategy, especially as the party seeks to challenge AIMIM’s dominance and consolidate non-minority votes.

The NCP, under Ajit Pawar’s leadership, is also expected to contest strongly, either independently or through local understandings. The party’s performance will largely depend on its ability to mobilise grassroots workers and position itself as a development-oriented alternative in civic governance.

Both factions of Shiv Sena are also preparing separately. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is focusing on strengthening its urban presence and aligning civic politics with the state government’s development agenda. On the other hand, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is expected to emphasise opposition politics, local issues, and traditional voter loyalty. The presence of both factions adds another layer of complexity to the electoral battle.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, though not traditionally dominant in Malegaon, is also expected to field candidates in select wards. Political analysts note that even a limited MNS presence can influence vote margins in closely contested seats, making it a factor parties cannot ignore.

Key civic issues such as water supply, sanitation, road infrastructure, illegal constructions, employment opportunities, and minority welfare are expected to dominate the campaign discourse. Voters in Malegaon are known to be highly issue-aware, often prioritising local performance over broader ideological narratives.

Alliance equations remain fluid as of December 29, 2025. While parties are publicly projecting confidence, behind-the-scenes negotiations and strategic calculations are ongoing. Analysts believe that last-minute alliances or tacit understandings could play a decisive role in shaping the final results.

As Malegaon heads toward the 2026 municipal elections, the contest is shaping up to be a true test of organisational strength, leadership credibility, and local connect. With so many political forces in the fray, the election is expected to deliver high drama, intense campaigning, and outcomes that could influence political strategies across Nashik district and Maharashtra as a whole.

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