For the 2026 BMC elections, 453 out of 2,185 candidates withdrew their nominations on the final day, leaving 1,729 in contention. This follows extensive efforts by major parties like BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT), and MNS to persuade rebel candidates, who filed independently after not receiving official tickets, to withdraw. While many rebels complied, some continue to challenge official nominees in various wards, creating internal party tensions and intensifying the electoral contest.