Sangli Municipal Corporation Result: BJP Single Largest, NCP Ajit Pawar Gets 16 Seats

The Sangli Miraj Kupwad Municipal Corporation (SMKMC) Election 2026 results have been declared, delivering a fractured but decisive verdict. In a high-stakes battle where ruling allies fought separately, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the single largest party, securing 39 seats.

Although the BJP fell just one seat short of the clear majority mark (40) in the 78-member civic body, they are all set to retain power with the help of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), which won 2 seats. The results were declared on Friday, January 16, 2026, after a tense counting process.

Sangli Election Result 2026: Final Party-Wise Tally

The election in Sangli was unique because the three partners of the ruling Mahayuti (BJP, Shiv Sena-Shinde, and NCP-Ajit Pawar) decided to contest separately. This led to a multi-cornered fight in almost every ward.

Here is the final breakdown of the 78 seats:

Party	Seats Won
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)	39
Congress (INC)	18
NCP (Ajit Pawar)	16
NCP (Sharad Pawar)	03
Shiv Sena (Shinde Faction)	02
Shiv Sena (UBT)	00
Total Seats	78
Majority Mark Needed	40

Who Won the Battle?

• The Near-Miss for BJP: The BJP put up a stellar performance, winning half the seats (39 out of 78). They needed just one more seat to reach the majority figure of 40 on their own.
• NCP (Ajit Pawar) Performance: The Ajit Pawar-led NCP surprised many by winning 16 seats, showing a strong hold in specific pockets of the city.
• Congress Resilience: While they could not stop the BJP, the Congress party managed to win 18 seats, performing better than the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (3 seats) and Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena (0 seats).

Key Highlights of the Result

1. Mahayuti Fought Separately, Will Rule Together

The most interesting aspect of this election was the “Friendly Fight” strategy. The BJP, Shinde Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP fought against each other. However, now that the results are out, the Shiv Sena (Shinde) with its 2 corporators is expected to support the BJP to cross the majority mark of 40. This ensures the Mahayuti alliance retains control of the corporation.

2. Suresh Khade vs. Jayant Patil

The election was seen as a proxy war between local BJP strongman and cabinet minister Suresh Khade and NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil. The result is a clear setback for Jayant Patil on his home turf, as his faction could only secure 3 seats, while the BJP dominated the city areas.

3. The 10-Vote Thriller in Miraj

The most dramatic result came from Ward No. 3 in Miraj. The contest was between the NCP (Ajit Pawar) candidate Shaila Durve and BJP’s Chhaya Jadhav. In a nail-biting finish, Shaila Durve defeated the BJP candidate by a margin of just 10 votes. This ward saw high tension until the very last round of counting.

Why This Election Matters

Sangli is a key district in Western Maharashtra, often called the sugar belt.

• BJP’s Urban Hold: The result proves that despite farmer protests and Maratha reservation agitations in the region, the BJP has successfully held onto its urban voter base in Sangli and Miraj.
• Opposition’s Weakness: The failure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to fight unitedly or present a cohesive front allowed the BJP to capitalize on the divided votes.

What Happens Next?

With 39 seats, the BJP is in the driver’s seat.

• Mayor Election: The BJP will likely claim the Mayor post.
• Deputy Mayor: As part of a post-poll alliance, the Deputy Mayor position might be offered to the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) or the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) to ensure stability in the board for the next five years.

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