The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated the crucial scrutiny process for a staggering 2,516 nomination papers filed for the upcoming civic body elections. This step follows the closure of the nomination window on Wednesday, December 30, 2025, setting the stage for the battle over Mumbai's 227 electoral wards.
Nomination Numbers and BJP's Surprising Setback
According to data released by the BMC, a total of 2,516 nomination forms were submitted by aspiring candidates between December 23 and 30. This number stands against 11,391 forms that were distributed by officials during the same period. The filing process concluded on Wednesday, leading immediately into the scrutiny phase.
In a significant and unexpected development for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its officially announced candidates for two specific wards failed to submit their papers. Shakil Ansari from ward 211 and Mandakini Khamkar from ward 212 did not file their nominations with the returning officer, effectively ceding those wards at this stage.
An official familiar with the nomination processes confirmed the lapse, stating, "In Prabhags number 211 and 212, we did not receive any applications of candidates from the BJP." This omission is viewed as a major upset for the party's electoral strategy in Mumbai.
Ward-Wise Filing Trends and Scrutiny Challenges
The data furnished by the civic body revealed interesting geographic trends in candidate filings. The M/East ward, which includes Deonar, saw the highest number of applications at 182. It was closely followed by the K/West ward, encompassing areas like Andheri and Lokhandwala, where 133 nomination papers were submitted.
As the scrutiny process commenced on Wednesday, several candidates faced immediate hurdles. Forms were cancelled due to lacunae, or deficiencies, in the filing process. One high-profile example emerged from ward 226 in Colaba. Here, the nomination papers of candidates from the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were rejected for failing to meet prerequisites. This leaves the BJP candidate, Makarand Narwekar, in a contest primarily against independent candidates.
The Road to the Final List
The meticulous scrutiny of all 2,516 nominations is a critical step to ensure compliance with election rules. This verification process is slated to continue until January 2, 2026. Following its completion, the BMC will release the final, authoritative list of candidates who are officially cleared to contest in the civic polls.
This phase often sees a reduction in the number of contestants as incomplete, incorrect, or improperly filed nominations are weeded out. The outcome will define the exact electoral landscape for Mumbai's 227 wards, determining the final contenders for one of India's most significant urban local body elections.
