Congress workers celebrate their party candidate's victory in the Kolhapur elections, in Kolhapur, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (PTI Photo)The Congress suffered a setback in Kolhapur on Friday as the BJP-led Mahayuti stormed to power for the first time in the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC). However, the party emerged as the largest party in the KMC, bagging 35 seats, while the BJP came second with 25.“We put up a strong fight, but could not succeed. A little more effort, and I think we would have easily returned to power. I want to thank the people of Kolhapur for reposing their faith in us in the manner they did. We emerged as the single largest party and reflected the confidence people have in the Congress,” Congress MLA Satej Patil, who led the party’s campaign in Kolhapur, told The Indian Express.Out of 81 seats, while the Congress and BJP bagged 35 and 25 seats, respectively, the Shiv Sena won 15 and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) 4. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and an Independent won a seat each. The Mahayuti had jointly contested the KMC elections.The verdict comes as a blow to the Congress, which has ruled the KMC for 25 years. Though the civic body was established in 1972, the elections were not fought on party symbols but were sponsored by political parties.In western Maharashtra, Kolhapur was the only city where the Congress was banking heavily on a return to power. In Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Ahilyanagar, and Satara, the Congress has been almost decimated.Patil said that although they lost power, their fight would continue. “We will continue to fight for the people of Kolhapur. We will keep the KMC on its toes and keep raising people’s issues. We will continue to stand by the people of Kolhapur. Our fight will continue,” he said.Patil admitted that in at least two prabhags, the party made a mistake while allotting seats to their alliance partner, Shiv Sena (UBT). “I think we made some mistakes. Otherwise, we would have returned to power…,” he said.Story continues below this adAfter the results, there was speculation that the NCP and the Congress would come together. However, NCP minister Hassan Mushrif dismissed any such possibility. “We will remain with the Mahayuti,” he told reporters.“In the past, the BJP used to have only one corporator. This success is a big one for the party. We will have our own mayor…I had said the Congress would sit at home after January 15. My words have come true. Whatever is happening in Delhi is happening at the local level as well,” BJP MP Dhananjay Mahadik said.How the candidates faredAmong the winners in the KMC elections are 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.The big losers include former BJP city chief Rahul Chikode, Prakash Naiknaware, and Ajit More.Story continues below this adIn Ichalkaranji Municipal Corporation (IMC), the Mahayuti secured a majority by winning 47 seats, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party with 43 seats. The Shiv Shahu Vikas Aghadi secured 17 votes, while the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, won three. The NCP won just one seat. The IMC had 16 prabhags and 230 candidates were in the fray.Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read MoreClick here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:pune