BMC elections 2026: Congress scores big in Malad, Aslam Shaikh takes a hit

The Indian National Congress emerged as a key force in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in the Malad West Assembly segment (162), winning four crucial wards in the P North municipal zone. While the results reinforced the party’s organisational strength in the area, they also delivered a personal setback to local Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh.

Of the eight wards in the Malad Assembly constituency, Congress candidates won four, wards 33, 34, 48 and 49, underlining the party’s continued influence in the Malad belt. 

In Malwani, ward 33 was won by Qamarjahan Siddiqui, MLA Shaikh’s sister, while ward 34 was secured by his son Haider Ali Shaikh. Congress also retained wards 48 and 49 through Rafique Shaikh, brother of former corporator Siraj Shaikh, and Sangeeta Koli.

However, the outcome was not entirely favourable for the MLA. In ward 62, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Zeeshan Multani, son of former corporator Changez Multani, defeated Saif Ahad Khan, Shaikh’s son-in-law, dealing a blow to the family’s electoral hold in the area. Despite this loss, Congress’s strong showing in other wards helped offset the setback.

BMC Election 2026 Results: Parties and the number of winning candidates

Counting process and security

For the first time, election officials introduced a staggered counting system, counting votes of only two candidates at a time instead of all candidates simultaneously. Once results for a pair were declared, counting proceeded to the next set. This restricted the flow of real-time information, leaving only candidates and their close aides aware of ongoing trends.

As a result, supporters gathered early near the reserved area outside the counting centre. To manage crowds and ensure law and order, heavy deployment of police personnel, traffic police and home guards was made. The Malwani Municipal Township School served as the counting centre for all P North wards.

Ward-wise highlights

Ward 32: In a closely fought contest, UBT candidate Geeta Bhandari defeated Shiv Sena Shinde faction candidate Manali Bhandari by just 84 votes. Geeta polled 8677 votes, while Manali secured 8593. Congress candidate Serina Kinny finished third with 7489 votes.

Ward 33: Congress candidate Qamarjahan Siddiqui registered a decisive win with 12,744 votes, defeating BJP’s Ujwala Vaiti by a margin of over 6300 votes.
Ward 34: Haider Ali Shaikh led comfortably against BJP candidate John Dennis, polling 16,622 votes against Dennis’s 4229 after five rounds. Although counting was briefly halted due to a technical issue in one EVM, officials said the result was virtually certain, with just over 1000 votes remaining in the affected machine.

Ward 35: BJP candidate Yogesh Verma won convincingly with 16,562 votes, defeating UBT’s Deepak More, who polled 6808 votes.
Ward 46: Yogita Koli emerged victorious.
Ward 47: BJP’s Tajinder Singh Tiwana defeated Congress’s former corporator Parminder Bhamra by a large margin.

Overall, the Malad results point to a consolidation of Congress’s organisational presence in key wards, even as internal family contests and opposition gains produced mixed outcomes for MLA Aslam Shaikh.

* This article was originally published here