Chandrapur Election Result 2026: Congress Defeats BJP, MVA Retains Power

In a surprising turn of events amidst the “Saffron Wave” across Maharashtra, the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation (CMC) Election 2026 has delivered a victory for the Congress party. While the ruling Mahayuti alliance (BJP and Shiv Sena-Shinde) swept major cities like Mumbai and Nagpur, Chandrapur remained a stronghold for the opposition.

The results, declared on January 16-17, 2026, show that the Congress has emerged as the single largest party. With the support of its Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partner, Shiv Sena (UBT), the opposition is all set to retain power in this crucial Vidarbha civic body.

Chandrapur Municipal Corporation Result 2026: Final Tally

The election for the 66-member Chandrapur Municipal Corporation was a fierce battle between the BJP and Congress. Here is the final breakdown of the seats:

Party	Seats Won
Congress (INC)	30
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)	23
Shiv Sena (UBT)	06
Others / Independents	07
Total Seats	66
Majority Mark	34

Who Won the Battle?

• Single Largest Party: The Congress party won 30 seats, falling just short of the majority mark of 34 on its own.
• Winning Alliance: The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), consisting of Congress (30) and Shiv Sena UBT (6), has a combined strength of 36 seats. This crosses the magic figure of 34, allowing them to comfortably elect the Mayor.
• BJP’s Performance: The BJP put up a strong fight, winning 23 seats, but failed to dislodge the Congress from its bastion.

Key Highlights of the Result

1. Vijay Wadettiwar’s Leadership

The victory is seen as a massive personal success for senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition, Vijay Wadettiwar. Chandrapur is his home turf, and holding onto this corporation while the BJP swept neighboring Nagpur and Amravati is a significant achievement.

2. Setback for Sudhir Mungantiwar & BJP

For the BJP, this result is a setback in the Vidarbha region. Despite rigorous campaigning by senior leaders like Sudhir Mungantiwar and the local MLA, the party could not secure a majority. The internal rifts and ticket distribution issues reportedly hurt the BJP’s chances in specific wards.

3. Shiv Sena (UBT) as Kingmaker

Although the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) won only 6 seats, their role is critical. Without their support, Congress (at 30 seats) would struggle to form the board. This victory boosts the morale of the UBT faction, showing they still have loyal voters in urban pockets of Vidarbha.

Why This Election Matters

Chandrapur is an industrial hub known for its coal mines and power plants.

• Outlier Result: In the 2026 Maharashtra Civic Polls, the BJP-led Mahayuti won almost 25 out of 29 corporations. Chandrapur is one of the few places where the “Modi Factor” or “Mahayuti Wave” did not work as effectively.
• Vidarbha Politics: Vidarbha is usually considered a BJP fortress (with Nagpur being the RSS headquarters). Congress winning here keeps the opposition’s hopes alive in the region.

What Happens Next?

With the numbers clear, the focus now shifts to the Mayoral election.

• Mayor Post: The Mayor is likely to be from the Congress party, given their higher seat count.
• Deputy Mayor: The post might be offered to Shiv Sena (UBT) as part of the alliance agreement.
• Board Formation: The new body will take charge in the coming weeks to address city issues like pollution, roads, and water supply.

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