The Congress suffered a major setback in Kolhapur on Friday as the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance captured power in the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) for the first time, ending the Congress’s 25-year rule. Despite losing control of the civic body, the Congress emerged as the single largest party, winning 35 of the 81 seats, while the BJP followed with 25 seats.

The Shiv Sena secured 15 seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won four, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) and an Independent candidate claimed one seat each. The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, had jointly contested the KMC elections.

Congress MLA Satej Patil, who led the party’s campaign, said the party put up a strong fight but narrowly missed returning to power. Thanking the people of Kolhapur, Patil said the Congress’s position as the single largest party reflected the trust voters continue to place in it. He added that the party would remain active in the civic body and continue to raise public issues.

Patil also acknowledged that the Congress made mistakes in seat-sharing arrangements with its alliance partner, Shiv Sena (UBT), in at least two prabhags, which may have cost the party power. However, he maintained that the Congress would continue to stand with the people of Kolhapur.

The verdict is a significant blow for the Congress, which was banking heavily on a comeback in Kolhapur, its last stronghold in western Maharashtra. In other major cities such as Pimpri-Chinchwad, Ahilyanagar, and Satara, the party has suffered heavy losses. Although municipal elections are officially contested without party symbols, candidates are backed by political parties.

Speculation over a possible post-poll alliance between the Congress and the NCP was dismissed by NCP minister Hassan Mushrif, who reiterated that the party would remain with the Mahayuti.

Reacting to the results, BJP MP Dhananjay Mahadik described the outcome as a major breakthrough for his party, noting that the BJP previously had only one corporator in the KMC. He said the party would now stake claim to the mayor’s post.

Among the prominent winners in the KMC elections were Rajesh Latkar; Ruturaj Kshirsagar, son of MLA Rajesh Kshirsagar; Satyajit Jadhav, son of MLA Jayshree Jadhav; Ashkin Aajrekar, son of former mayor Nilofer Aajrekar; and NCP city chief Aadil Faras. Notable losers included former BJP city chief Rahul Chikode, Prakash Naiknaware, and Ajit More.

Meanwhile, in the Ichalkaranji Municipal Corporation (IMC), the Mahayuti also secured a clear majority, winning 47 seats. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 43 seats, followed by the Shiv Shahu Vikas Aghadi with 17, the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) with three, and the NCP with one seat. Elections in the IMC were held across 16 prabhags, with 230 candidates contesting