Shiv Sena Faction War Transforms Mumbai South-Central Into Electoral Powder Keg Ahead of 2026 BMC Polls
Mumbai: The traditionally Marathi-dominated Mumbai South-Central region encompassing Worli, Dadar-Mahim, and Parel-Lalbaug has historically served as an impregnable fortress for Shiv Sena (UBT). The party’s internal fracture, however, has dramatically reshaped the electoral terrain ahead of the 2026 Municipal Corporation elections.
Constituencies including Lalbaug-Parel and Dadar-Mahim now witness direct confrontations between the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS coalition and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction. In Worli, longtime party workers have entered the race as independent contenders, threatening to fragment the vote base and undermining the official candidate’s prospects. Political observers anticipate fiercely competitive battles across these neighborhoods, with rival Sena camps and defectors creating multi-cornered contests.
Mahim-Dadar
Critical Battle Unfolds in Sena’s Traditional Territory
Dadar and Mahim, once unassailable Shiv Sena strongholds, now face an electoral crucible as Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena strategize to unite Marathi voters through their partnership. Uddhav Thackeray and MNS supremo Raj Thackeray confront formidable opposition from the Shinde-led faction, which has established a robust campaign infrastructure.
UBT has deployed three ex-mayors to defend its turf, while the Shinde camp has fielded relatives of former UBT stalwart Sada Sarvankar, who defected to the Shinde faction in 2022. This strategic move could potentially fracture Marathi voter solidarity, leaving the final verdict highly unpredictable.
Ward No. 182 (Dadar)
Milind Vaidya — Shiv Sena (UBT), ex-mayor
Rajan Parkar — BJP
Ward No. 191 (Shivaji Park)
Vishakha Raut — Shiv Sena (UBT), ex-mayor
Priya Sarvankar — Shiv Sena (Shinde), daughter of former legislator Sada Sarvankar
Ward No. 198 (Mafatlal Mill-Haji Ali)
Vandana Gawli — Shiv Sena (Shinde), ex-corporator from Akhil Bhartiya Sena
Aboli Khadye — Shiv Sena (UBT), spouse of local shakha chief
Ward No. 199 (Dhobi Ghat)
Kishori Pednekar — Shiv Sena (UBT), ex-mayor
Rupali Kusale — Shiv Sena (Shinde)
Sewri-Lalbaug-Parel
Factional Warfare Escalates in Working-Class Neighborhoods
The Sewri-Lalbaug-Parel corridor, combining established working-class communities with emerging commercial districts, has remained a Shiv Sena citadel for decades. While Shiv Sena (UBT) maintains dominance, intensifying rivalry has emerged following the party’s division.
The Shinde-aligned Sena’s aggressive electoral strategy has transformed this belt into a pivotal battlefront for the forthcoming BMC elections. Electoral allegiance, particularly among the Marathi-speaking population, will likely determine the outcome.
Ward No. 202 (Sewri West)
Shradha Jadhav — Shiv Sena (UBT), ex-mayor with six terms as corporator
Parth Navkar — BJP
Vijay Indulkar — Independent, former UBT shakha head who revolted after ticket denial
Ward No. 204 (Lalbaug-Parel)
Anil Kokil — Shiv Sena (Shinde), former UBT corporator
Kiran Tadve — Shiv Sena (UBT)
Ward No. 206 (Sewri Fort)
Sachin Padwal — Shiv Sena (UBT), ex-corporator
Nana Ambole — Shiv Sena (Shinde), ex-corporator and former BJP member
Worli
Rebel Insurgency Challenges UBT Dominance
Worli, a formidable Shiv Sena (UBT) bastion represented by MLA Aaditya Thackeray, faces internal turbulence after the party selected relatives of former corporators as candidates. This decision has sparked discontent among shakha pramukhs grassroots organizational leaders essential for maintaining party cohesion and voter mobilization.
Across all four wards, dissident candidates have submitted nominations, substantially increasing the probability of vote fragmentation and endangering UBT’s territorial control.
Ward No. 193
Hemangi Worlikar — Shiv Sena (UBT), former deputy mayor
Pralhad Worlikar — Shiv Sena (Shinde)
Suryakant Koli — Independent, UBT shakha head who revolted after ticket refusal
Ward No. 194
Nishikant Shinde — Shiv Sena (UBT), sibling of MLC Sunil Shinde
Samadhan Sarvankar — Shiv Sena (Shinde), ex-corporator and son of former legislator Sada Sarvankar
Sonal Pawar — Independent, local functionary who rebelled against UBT nominee
Ward No. 196
Padmaja Chemburkar — Shiv Sena (UBT), spouse of ex-corporator Ashish Chemburkar
Sonali Sawant — BJP
Sangeeta Jagtap — Independent, UBT functionary who revolted against candidacy
Ward No. 197 (Mahalaxmi Racecourse-Haji Ali)
Vanita Narvankar — Shiv Sena (Shinde), spouse of former UBT corporator Datta Narvankar
Rachna Salvi — MNS
Shravani Desai — Independent, spouse of ex-corporator Parshuram (Chotu) Desai, rebel candidate after constituency was allocated to MNS under alliance agreement