Mumbai Civic Polls: Municipal elections are scheduled to be held in Mumbai on January 15. Conditions are already shaping up well for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti (Mahayuti) to repeat its impressive performance in the local self-government elections in Maharashtra.
An examination of documents obtained by The Indian Express under RTI has revealed that over 99 per cent of the funds allocated by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for development works in the last three years have gone to wards represented by Mahayuti MLAs.
Which coalition received how much money?
Records show that between February 2023 and October 2025, the BMC sanctioned over Rs 1490.66 crore for civic development such as road repairs, improvement of water drainage systems, health facilities and beautification of pados.
According to records, Rs 1,476.92 crore of this went to MLAs, MLCs and MPs of the ruling coalition of BJP, Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. BJP MLAs got the highest (Rs 1076.7 crore), followed by Shinde’s Siv Sena MLAs (Rs 372.7 crore).
In contrast, only ₹13.74 crore or 0.9 per cent was allocated to the Opposition during the period, and that too to Congress MLA Amin Patel, who represents the Mumbai Devi constituency in south Mumbai, where the minority population is significant.
Of the remaining MLAs, all ten MLAs from Shiv Sena (UBT), two other MLAs from Congress and one MLA from Samajwadi Party (SP) did not receive any funds.
The findings raise questions about fair governance in India’s richest municipal corporation, with an annual budget of over ₹74,000 crore, especially just days before the BMC elections.
Urban policy experts point out that infrastructure is a key component in pre-election political communication, with public spaces strengthening the visibility and electoral advantage of ruling party legislators.
Between February 2023 and November 2024, the Mahayuti had 21 MLAs from Mumbai, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi had 15. After the November 2024 assembly elections, the Mahayutti wrested the second seat from the opposition. MVA has the upper hand in terms of number of MPs, four of its six MPs belong to MVA.
₹360 crore has been disbursed so far in the current financial year. This entire amount has been given to the ruling MLAs. Among MLAs, Ram Kadam of Ghatkopar West (BJP) emerged as the highest recipient of the municipal fund, receiving ₹70 crore.
This was followed by ₹35 crore (FY 2023-24), ₹17.5 crore (FY 2024-25) and ₹17.5 crore (FY 2025-26). BJP’s Yogesh Sagar (Charkop) came second with ₹67.47 crore, and his colleague Atul Bhatkhalkar (Kandivali East) came third with ₹66.06 crore.
Concerns have grown since the timing of the allocation. In the months leading up to the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, RTI records show that more than ₹467 crore was given to sitting MLAs of the ruling party, while almost all opposition MLAs received no funds at all.
How much money did Amin Patel of Congress get?
Between August and September 2024, 23 MLAs from the ruling coalition – BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde) received a total of ₹357.3 crore from civic funds, just weeks before the model code of conduct came into effect on October 15. The only opposition MLA was Congress’s Amin Patel, who received ₹3.92 crore.
The total amount includes funds given to Mumbai MLCs who do not represent any constituencies. Records show that even in this group, none of the five opposition MLCs were allocated funds.
At least two of these, Sachin Ahir of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sunil Shinde of the NCP (SP), told The Indian Express that they had requested funds for civic development, but their requests were ignored. BJP’s Pravin Herkar tops the list with ₹33 crore.
What is the policy implemented in 2023?
The root cause of the imbalance in fund allocation is the policy implemented in February 2023. In the absence of elected councillors, MLAs and MPs were empowered to propose development works for 227 wards. This was a temporary administrative measure intended to prevent civilian systems from collapsing.
In practice, however, this policy concentrated the power to allocate funds based on demands raised by MLAs and MPs in the hands of Mumbai’s guardian ministers. Shiv Sena’s Deepak Keskar and BJP’s Mangal Prabhat Lodha from 2023-24, and BJP’s Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ashish Shelar from January this year.
“All fund allocations are done as per BMC norms, and there is no question of bias,” Shelar told The Indian Express. “MLAs and MPs write to guardian ministers and administrators seeking funds. Based on these proposals, guardian ministers approve the funds, which are then processed by the BMC,” said a senior BMC official.
What did the opposition parties say?
Several MLAs from opposition parties told The Indian Express that this is not just about politics. They say that behind every pending proposal, thousands of people are waiting for basic services.
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According to BMC officials, various municipal departments are continuing basic maintenance work in all areas of the city, including basic facilities and services like water supply and solid waste management.
He said that civic funds allocated on the demands of MLAs and MPs (and previously by councillors) were used to repair footpaths, roads and drains; construction and repair of cemeteries, libraries and community toilets; And for facilities like beautification projects.