The voice that lingered like a Melody: India bids a tearful farewell to Suman Kalyanpur
The curtains have fallen on one of the gentlest and most enduring voices of Indian music.
The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has lost control of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the country’s richest civic body, in elections conducted on Thursday and results declared on Friday.
As per the final tally, out of the 227 wards in BMC, the BJP has emerged as the single-largest party by winning 89 wards. Its alliance partner, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), won 29 wards, taking Mahayuti’s total to 118 wards.
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The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), meanwhile, won 65 wards, the Congress bagged 24 wards, AIMIM won 8, MNS won 6, NCP got 3 wards, SP bagged 2, and NCP-SP ended with 1 ward.
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The results mean Mumbai will soon have a first Mahayuti Mayor, and possibly the first ‘BJP Marathi Mayor’, as the saffron party has promised.
Reacting to the results on Saturday, the Shiv Sena (UBT) stated that it will continue its fight in Maharashtra till the Marathi community receives the respect it deserves.
Here’s the rough English translation of what Uddhav Thackeray-led party posted on X today: “This battle is not over yet… It will continue just like this until the Marathi person receives the respect they deserve!”
ही लढाई अजून संपलेली नाही…
मराठी माणसाला योग्य सन्मान मिळेपर्यंत अशीच सुरू राहील! pic.twitter.com/anLAhcZls5— ShivSena – शिवसेना Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (@ShivSenaUBT_) January 17, 2026
What Raj Thackeray said
Raj Thackeray, who joined hands with his cousin Uddhav after decades of separation, also posted a similar, but long message on X. Raj alleged “unyielding financial power and the might of authority” available with the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the state meant “Shivshakti” lost the battle.
Thackeray added that his party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s fight for the Marathi people, their language and identity will continue. This is the fight for existence, he added.
Here’s what Raj Thackeray posted on X today (rough English translation):
“Warm regards, Jai Maharashtra. First and foremost, heartfelt congratulations to all the elected corporators from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Shiv Sena. This election was not an easy one. It was a battle of unyielding financial power and the might of authority against Shivshakti. Yet, even in such a contest, the workers from both sides put up an excellent fight. Their praise cannot be enough.
“Though Maharashtra Navnirman Sena did not achieve the expected success this time, and that brings sorrow, we are not the ones to get disheartened by it. Our elected corporators will more than hold their own against the ruling powers wherever they are. And if anything seems to go against the Marathi people, they will certainly bring those in power to task.
“Our fight is for the Marathi people, the Marathi language, Marathi identity, and for a prosperous Maharashtra. This fight is our very existence. You all know well that such battles are long-term.
“As for what went wrong, what was left undone, where we fell short, and what needs to be done, we will all come together for the analysis and action.
“Truth be told, you don’t really need me to tell you this. But still, I say—whether in the MMR region or across the state, those in power and their supporters will not let go of any opportunity to harass the Marathi people. Therefore, we must stand firmly behind our Marathi people. Elections will come and go, but we must never forget that our breath is Marathi.
“Let’s meet again soon. Let’s get back to work. Let’s rebuild our party and organization anew!!! Yours humbly, Raj Thackeray.”
सस्नेह जय महाराष्ट्र,
सर्वप्रथम महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेना आणि शिवसेनेच्या निवडून आलेल्या सर्व नगरसेवकांचं मनापासून अभिनंदन. यावेळची निवडणूक ही सोपी नव्हती. अचाट धनशक्ती, सत्तेची शक्ती विरुद्ध शिवशक्ती अशी लढाई होती. पण अशा लढाईत सुद्धा दोन्ही पक्षाच्या कार्यकर्त्यांनी उत्तम…
— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) January 17, 2026
The BMC loss is not just another defeat for the Thackerays, especially the Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav. It means losing control of Mumbai’s street politics and issues that affect Mumbaikars in day-to-day life.
The BMC was under Shiv Sena’s control for nearly three decades. For the party which has already lost a big part of its cadre due to the spilt, as well as the state, the defeat in BMC elections is like rubbing salt on its wounds.
The party and its cadre will now have to work hard to clean up the wound and heal it if the fight for the ‘Marathi pride’ has to yield any political success.
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