In the second round of vote counting for the Vasai–Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) elections, the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) has established an overwhelming lead, racing ahead in 113 of the 115 seats. Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, is leading in two seats, while the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Congress, NCP led by Sharad Pawar, and other smaller parties are yet to register a lead at this stage of counting.
The high-stakes contest for all 115 civic seats has brought intense focus on key regions across the city. Vasai Gaon continues to be a crucial battleground shaped by community-centric issues and concerns over local heritage. Nalasopara East, with its sizeable migrant population, remains a critical area for national parties seeking to broaden their support base. Virar West has once again emerged as the stronghold of the BVA, reinforcing its dominance under the Thakur family’s leadership. Meanwhile, Manickpur, known for its upper-middle-class demographic, is expected to prioritise infrastructure development and urban civic services in its voting pattern.
This election has witnessed a record 547 candidates contesting across 29 prabhags, turning the VVMC polls into a fiercely multi-cornered battle. The BVA, led by Hitendra Thakur, is aiming to retain its long-standing control over the civic body, with prominent candidates such as Pankaj Thakur playing key roles in the campaign.
The Mahayuti alliance of the BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) has attempted to challenge the BVA by foregrounding development-focused promises, with leaders like Mahesh Patil and Chandrakant Gorivale spearheading campaign efforts. On the other side, the Maha Vikas Aghadi—comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) and the Congress—has relied on issues of urban governance and anti-incumbency to mobilise voters. Smaller parties such as AIMIM and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have also entered the fray in select pockets, potentially influencing overall vote shares.
Ahead of the counting process, an exit poll conducted by VMJ (Virar Majhi Jaan) had projected a comfortable majority for the BVA. The survey estimated that the BVA could win around 82 seats, comfortably crossing the majority mark of 58. The Mahayuti alliance was projected to secure 29 seats, while Shiv Sena (UBT) was expected to win two seats. Other parties and independents were collectively forecast to claim two seats.
The VVMC elections have drawn considerable attention due to the region’s political significance and the aggressive campaigning by all major parties. While early trends appear to exceed even the most optimistic exit poll projections for the BVA, political observers caution that the final picture will only be clear once official counting is fully completed.