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BMC Elections LIVE: Voting for 29 municipal corporations has commenced at 7:30 am on Thursday. The spotlight is on Mumbai, where the BJP-led Mahayuti faces a high-stakes battle against the united Thackeray faction for control of the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
This BMC election is significant as it marks the Shiv Sena's first civic poll since its 2022 split, when Eknath Shinde broke away with most MLAs, along with the party's name and symbol. The undivided Shiv Sena had held power in the BMC for 25 years.
Polling for 2,869 seats across 893 wards will take place from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16. Around 3.48 crore voters will decide the fate of 15,931 candidates, including 1,700 in Mumbai and 1,166 in Pune. In Mumbai alone, over 25,000 police personnel will be deployed to ensure smooth polling and counting.
Except for Mumbai, the remaining 28 municipal corporations have multi-member wards. These elections come after a gap of more than six years, as the terms of these civic bodies expired between 2020 and 2023. Nine of the 29 corporations fall within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), India's most urbanised belt.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday paid a visit to poll booths run by workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Videos of easily removable indelible ink has sparked concerns around the voting process. As per reports the Maharashtra's State Election Commissioner said that they are probing viral videos that showed 'indelible' ink being removed using acetone.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Thursday revealed that her name was missing from the voter list at her regular polling booth during the BMC elections. Polling officials later guided her to another booth, where she was able to cast her vote.
Sharing her experience, Chaturvedi urged citizens to turn out in large numbers and verify their booth details in advance to avoid inconvenience. She emphasized the importance of participating in the democratic process and voting for parties that have consistently earned public trust.
By 1:30 p.m., approximately 29.22% polling had been recorded for the elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra.
Source: State Election Commission
An average of 17.73% of voters had cast their ballots in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections by 11:30 am on Thursday, officials said. Polling began at 7:30 am and will continue until 5:30 pm.
According to a BMC spokesperson, voting is taking place under tight security across Mumbai’s 227 electoral wards. Officials are closely monitoring turnout as the day progresses.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray cast his vote along with his family on Thursday and urged people across Mumbai to step out and take part in the civic polls. “Our entire family voted together, and we appeal to all voters in all constituencies where elections are being held to cast their votes,” he said.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday alleged bias by the State Election Commission after casting his vote in Mumbai’s civic elections. Speaking to reporters in Dadar, where he voted along with his family, including his mother Kunda, Thackeray claimed the administration was being misused by the government to influence the outcome, PTI reported.
He criticized the poll body for failing to properly explain the use of the Printing Auxiliary Display Unit (PADU) and accused authorities of extending the canvassing period to enable ruling parties to distribute money. Thackeray also claimed that the indelible ink mark could be wiped off with sanitizer, warning, “They don’t want the Opposition parties. The entire administration is being run by the government. This is not the sign of a healthy democracy.” He urged MNS workers to remain vigilant against malpractice.
Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik faced a long delay in Navi Mumbai on Thursday after his name was missing from the voter list at his designated polling booth. Naik, accompanied by his family, waited for several hours while officials verified his details.
Election Commission authorities later intervened and resolved the issue, enabling him to cast his vote. The incident drew attention as Navi Mumbai is considered Naik’s political stronghold, making the episode a notable highlight of today’s municipal polling.
The counting of votes for the BMC Elections will start at 10 am on Friday, Civic Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said. Gagrani told reporters that due to the short gap between polling and counting, the counting of votes for all civic wards will start at 10 am on Friday. This could result in the declaration of results later than usual. “It may take an hour longer than usual,” Gagrani stated as per a PTI report.
“Hopefully, whoever wins will hold the elections on time. This is very important for the country, for democracy. But given the state of our city in the last few days, the hope is that things will improve. I’ve stopped asking people to vote. What I’m seeing here is that there’s hardly any public presence. There are more officials inside, it’s so shameful. Every Indian should feel pain seeing this. If we don’t take care of our country, if we don’t take responsibility for it, then what’s happening will continue to happen. First of all, the air and water should be clean, the basic necessities for human life.”
“I urge everyone to come out and vote. Just like I came this morning to vote. If you want security, progress, clean air, and pothole-free roads in Mumbai, then we all have to take responsibility and vote. Only by exercising your right to vote will you be able to make Mumbai, which I believe is the best city in the world, even better. I request all the citizens of Mumbai to come and vote for the right people.”
“It is a great privilege to have the opportunity to vote, and I would encourage and request everyone to exercise their franchise and come out in large numbers. Local issues are extremely important, and I’m glad we are having a BMC election. I’m looking forward to the new administration.”
“The voting will begin with the blessings of Maa Mumba Devi and Shri Siddhivinayak. I urge every Mumbaikar to cast their vote because it is a quality of democracy that empowers you to voice your questions.”
She adds, “The opposition is finding excuses for its defeat, with EVMs, Election Commission, ED, CBI. Mumbaikars will only vote for development. The mayor of Mumbai will be a Marathi manus, a Hindu, and the one whose heart beats for this city and wants to work for it.”
RSS Chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat has arrived to cast his vote at the Bhauji Daptari NMC School in Mahal.
Polling has begun across Mumbai’s 227 wards, with 1,700 candidates in the fray. The BJP is contesting 137 seats, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena 90, and the NCP 94 independently. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has fielded 163 candidates, while the Congress has 143, the MNS 52, and the VBA 46.
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