Archive · 3 Dec 2025
Mumbai's Civic Power Shift: Marathi Dominance Amid Migration
Mumbai is a big city where many people from different places live.
A long time ago, people who weren't from Maharashtra (a state in India) had a lot of power in the city's government.
But over time, a political party called Shiv Sena started to focus on Marathi people (from Maharashtra) and got more power.
Now, even though more people from other states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are moving to Mumbai, the Marathi people still have most of the say in how the city is run.
Another party, the BJP, is now also helping non-Marathi people have more of a voice.
So, even though Mumbai is very diverse, the people in charge are mostly Marathi.
Mumbai's population has become more diverse, with a significant increase in Hindi speakers and migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has shifted from being dominated by non-Marathis to being mostly Marathi-dominated.
The Shiv Sena's rise in the late 1960s marked a shift towards Marathi political dominance in Mumbai.
The BJP's rise post-2014 has led to increased political representation for non-Marathi and migrant communities.
Despite the growth in non-Marathi populations, their representation in the BMC has not kept pace, currently standing at 33%.
- Who
- Mumbai's population, including Marathi and non-Marathi communities, and political parties like Shiv Sena and BJP.
- What
- A shift in Mumbai's civic power dynamics, with Marathi dominance despite increasing migration and diversity.
- When
- From the 1960s to the present, with significant changes post-2014.
- Where
- Mumbai, India, specifically in the context of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
- Why
- Due to historical political mobilisation, migration patterns, and the rise of the BJP in Mumbai's politics.
- Marathi Population (1971-2011)
- 41.99% to 35.40%
- Hindi Population Growth (1971-2011)
- 502%
- Non-Marathi Corporators (1970s-2017)
- 45% to 33%
- BMC Elections 2017
- Shiv Sena: 84 seats, BJP: 82 seats
- Non-Marathi Corporators 2017
- 76 (highest ever)
- Migrants from Uttar Pradesh (1961-2001)
- 12% to 24%
- Migrants from Bihar (1961-2001)
- 0.2% to 3.5%
- Mumbai Population Growth (1971-2011)
- 106%