The counting for the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) Election 2026 is nearing completion, and the trends are decisive. As of January 16, 2026, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) alliance has secured a massive victory, crossing the majority mark with ease.
This election was a four-way battle between the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). While many expected the MNS to play “Kingmaker” in its traditional stronghold, voters have decisively chosen the stability of the Mahayuti alliance.
Here is a detailed report on the final tally, key winners, and what this result means for the future of Nashik’s development.
Nashik Election Result 2026: Live Tally (3:00 PM Update)
The counting of votes for the 122 seats of the Nashik Municipal Corporation began at 10:00 AM this morning. The Mahayuti crossed the magic figure of 62 by early afternoon.
- Total Seats: 122
- Majority Mark: 62
- Current Status: Mahayuti has won/is leading in 90+ seats.
| Party / Alliance | Seats Leading/Won | Status |
| BJP | 58+ | Single Largest Party |
| Shiv Sena (Shinde) | 32+ | Strong Ally |
| Shiv Sena (UBT) | 12 | Trailing |
| MNS (Raj Thackeray) | 8 | Below Expectations |
| Congress / NCP (SP) | 10 | Poor Performance |
| Others/Independents | 2 | — |
Key Highlights: Why Did Mahayuti Win?
Political analysts believe three major factors contributed to this landslide victory in Nashik:
1. The “Metro Neo” Promise
The BJP’s campaign focused heavily on the Nashik Metro Neo project and the upcoming Nashik-Pune High-Speed Railway. Voters seem to have favored the “Double Engine Sarkar” narrative to ensure these infrastructure projects are completed without delays.
2. MNS Fails to Reclaim Ground
Nashik was once the fortress of Raj Thackeray’s MNS (which ruled the NMC in 2012). However, in 2026, the party struggled to convert its rallies into votes, winning only a handful of seats. This indicates a shift of the traditional Marathi vote bank towards the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena.
3. Split in MVA Votes
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered due to a lack of coordination. In many wards, rebels from Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar) cut into the votes of Shiv Sena (UBT), ultimately benefiting the BJP candidates.
Key Winners & Losers
- Winner: Satish Kulkarni (BJP), former Mayor, has retained his seat with a huge margin.
- Winner: Ajay Boraste (Shiv Sena – Shinde) won comfortably, proving his switch from the UBT faction was accepted by voters.
- Loser: several senior corporators from the Uddhav Thackeray faction have lost their deposit in key wards of Panchavati and CIDCO.
What Happens Next?
With a clear majority of over 90 seats combined, the BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde) will effortlessly elect the new Mayor of Nashik next month.
- Mayor Election: As per the power-sharing formula, the Mayor’s post is likely to stay with the BJP for the first 2.5 years, followed by the Shinde Sena.
- Immediate Focus: The new body will have to tackle the Kumbh Mela 2027 preparations, which is the biggest upcoming event for the holy city.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Who won the Nashik Municipal Corporation election 2026?
The Mahayuti alliance (BJP + Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde) has won the election with a clear majority, leading in over 90 seats out of 122.
Q: How many seats did MNS win in Nashik 2026?
Raj Thackeray’s MNS performed below expectations, leading in only about 8 to 10 seats, failing to become the ‘Kingmaker’.
Q: When was the last Nashik Corporation election held?
The last election was held in February 2017, where BJP won single-handedly. The 2022 elections were delayed due to OBC reservation issues and were finally conducted in January 2026.
Q: Did BJP contest alone or with Shiv Sena?
In Nashik, the BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena had a strategic alliance (Mahayuti), though they had friendly fights in a few specific wards.
Q: Who will be the new Mayor of Nashik?
The new Mayor will be from the BJP, as it has emerged as the single largest party with 58+ seats. The official election for the Mayor post will take place in February 2026.