The stage is set for the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, with the crucial process of filing nomination papers scheduled to begin on Tuesday, December 23. The electoral battle for India's richest civic body will culminate in voting on January 15, 2025, across a vast network of 10,111 polling centres in Mumbai.
Key Meeting Sets Poll Guidelines
Ahead of the nomination process, BMC Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani convened a significant meeting with representatives from various political parties on Monday. The primary agenda was to ensure strict adherence to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which is now in force. Gagrani emphasized the administration's commitment to conducting disciplined and impartial elections.
During the meeting, civic officials issued detailed guidelines to party workers. They warned that nomination papers could be rejected if candidates make errors. "All information must be submitted in the prescribed format," officials stated. "If any section of the affidavit is left blank or filled with incorrect details, the nomination will be cancelled." Political representatives were also briefed on the roles of returning officers, scrutiny procedures, and rules for election expenditure.
Election Machinery in Place
The election machinery is fully operational to manage the massive exercise. 23 returning officers, drawn from the district revenue department, have been appointed to oversee the 23 administrative wards, which encompass a total of 227 electoral wards. The civic chief leads this team of returning officers, with nearly 100-150 civic staffers deployed under each officer's supervision to ensure smooth operations.
Officials also highlighted the importance of the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme. They stressed the dual need for candidates to maintain proper accounts of campaign spending and for the administration to boost voter awareness and participation.
Important Electoral Dates
The electoral calendar has been firmly established. The window for filing nomination forms opens on Tuesday, December 23, and will remain open until 4 PM on December 30. This period excludes Christmas Day (December 25) and Sunday, December 28.
Subsequent key dates are as follows:
- Scrutiny of nomination forms: December 31, 2024.
- Last date for withdrawal of candidature: January 2, 2025.
- Publication of final list of contesting candidates: January 3, 2025.
- Date of Poll: January 15, 2025.
With the nomination process about to commence, political activity in Mumbai is expected to intensify significantly as candidates formally enter the fray for control of the crucial civic body.
