1997 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election

The 1997 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election was a pivotal local election held in Mumbai, India, on February 16, 1997. This election was significant as it marked the first municipal elections since the reorganization of Maharashtra's local governance structures and the establishment of a new political landscape following the 1995 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections. The election was contested predominantly between the Shiv Sena, which was the ruling party in the previous BMC, and the Indian National Congress, among other regional parties. Voter turnout for this election was approximately 55%, reflecting active citizen engagement in local governance. Results led to a coalition government, influencing subsequent political dynamics in Mumbai and shaping local policy decisions in the years to follow.