Three Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidates were elected to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) 227-member general body on January 16. With the leadership in the NCP in immediate lurch due to the demise of Deputy Chief Minister and party chief Ajit Pawar, the newly elected representatives are now left looking to other party leaders for guidance and advice, steadfast that they have support from the party, and willing to continue supporting their party in turn.

The NCP faction led by Ajit decided to break away from the Mahayuti alliance — its partner in the BJP-ruled government in Maharashtra — and contest the BMC elections alone. Subsequently, three candidates from NCP were elected to the BMC’s general body — Ayesha Khan from ward number 96; Sayeeda Khan from ward number 168; and Bushra Nadeem Malik from ward 170. In contrast, the Mahayuti Alliance secured 118 seats in the polls.