BMC Elections 2026: Can Arun Gawli’s Akhil Bharatiya Sena Retain Byculla Stronghold As Daughters Geeta, Yogita Enter Fray?
Mumbai: The nomination filings of Geeta Gawli and Yogita Gawli-Waghmare for the 2026 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections have brought renewed attention to the Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS). With the polls on the horizon, the party aims to reclaim its once-dominant position in Byculla, evolving from a hyperlocal power base into a calculated force in Mumbai’s civic landscape.
Dagdi Chawl: The power centre
The ABS remains deeply connected to its founder Arun Gawli, widely known as ‘Daddy’, and his iconic base, Dagdi Chawl. This fortified Byculla complex has functioned as the party’s operational headquarters for decades.
The ABS built its foundation on a grassroots ‘son of the soil’ appeal combined with community welfare programs. During the 1990s and early 2000s, the party operated as an informal governance structure in Byculla, settling local conflicts and offering financial assistance to residents.
The party’s core support comes from Ward 212 and Ward 207, covering Byculla, Mazgaon, and parts of Dockyard. Its voter base includes Marathi-speaking workers and segments of Muslim and minority communities who regard the Gawli family as approachable community representatives.
Electoral track record
Despite its modest size, the ABS has consistently disrupted Mumbai’s electoral calculus in the Byculla-Chinchpokli corridor, often spoiling the prospects of larger parties like Shiv Sena and Congress.
The party first gained prominence in the 2002 BMC elections when its candidate Sunil Ghate pulled off a stunning victory against a Shiv Sena opponent, announcing ABS as a credible player in south Mumbai politics.
In 2004, Arun Gawli captured the Chinchpokli Assembly seat, strengthening the party’s regional footprint. His win represented a rare breakthrough for an independent regional outfit against established state-level parties.
The ABS maintained its municipal presence in subsequent years. During the 2007 BMC polls, the party secured two seats, with Geeta Gawli winning her first corporator position—a victory that established the family’s continued role in civic governance.
In 2012, the party held its ground as Geeta Gawli retained her seat while Vandana Gawli, Arun Gawli’s sister-in-law, won Ward 207, expanding the party’s BMC representation.
The 2017 civic elections reduced ABS to a single seat, with Geeta Gawli as its sole winner. However, her strategic importance grew when she backed the Bharatiya Janata Party in securing mayoral control. In exchange, the ABS obtained a key committee chairperson position, demonstrating the party’s ability to punch above its weight as a ‘kingmaker’ despite limited numbers.
2026: A turning point
The upcoming elections represent a pivotal moment for the ABS. Both of Arun Gawli’s daughters are contesting for the first time together:
Geeta Gawli brings three terms of corporator experience and established voter connections. Yogita Gawli-Waghmare’s entry represents a generational transition, attempting to attract younger voters while preserving the ‘Gawli’ legacy.
However, family tensions complicate the 2026 campaign. Vandana Gawli, a former ABS corporator, has switched to the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), setting up a direct clash in Ward 207 that could fracture the traditional ‘Dagdi Chawl’ support base between ABS and the ruling Shinde camp.
Current political standing
Though no longer the dominant force of its 2004 peak, the ABS maintains tactical significance. In a fragmented BMC where no single party—whether Shiv Sena (UBT), Shinde Sena, BJP, or Congress—may secure an outright majority, even one or two ABS seats could prove decisive in controlling the Rs 74,427 crore municipal budget.
Arun Gawli’s recent release on bail in late 2025 has energized party workers and could consolidate the ‘Daddy’ loyalist base.
As the ABS enters the 2026 BMC elections, it positions itself not as a citywide contender but as a focused regional player. The electoral fate of Geeta and Yogita Gawli hinges on their ability to protect their traditional territory from the broader Shiv Sena factional war and whether the family brand still resonates with Byculla’s younger voters.