Maharashtra Civic Polls: Voters Head to Polling Stations Across State
Maharashtra is voting today in crucial civic elections. The state will elect representatives for twenty-nine municipal corporations. This includes the prestigious Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Polling began at 7:30 in the morning. It will continue until 5:30 in the evening.
Massive Electoral Exercise Underway
This is a massive democratic exercise. Voters are deciding the fate of 15,931 candidates. These candidates are contesting for 2,869 seats. The seats span 893 wards across Maharashtra. A staggering 3.48 crore citizens are eligible to cast their ballots today.
Key cities voting include Mumbai and Pune. Mumbai has 1,700 candidates in the fray. Pune has 1,166 candidates. Other major corporations holding polls are Pimpri-Chinchwad, Kolhapur, and Nagpur. Vasai-Virar, Kalyan-Dombivli, and Solapur are also voting. The list includes Amravati, Thane, and Parbhani as well.
High-Stakes Battle for Mumbai's BMC
All eyes are on Mumbai. The city is electing a new Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The BMC is the country's richest municipal body. It has a budget exceeding ₹74,000 crore for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
The battle for Mumbai is intensely competitive. A three-cornered fight is unfolding. The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is one major contender. The Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS combine is another key player. The Congress-VBA alliance completes the trio.
Control of the BMC holds deep significance for the Thackeray family. The undivided Shiv Sena held power here for twenty-six consecutive years. The last BMC election occurred in 2017. At that time, the Shiv Sena and BJP fought as united allies.
Now, the political landscape has shifted dramatically. Two estranged Thackeray cousins have reunited for this poll. Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are campaigning together after two decades. In the 2017 elections, the BJP won 82 seats. The Shiv Sena secured 84 seats.
Security Arrangements and Vote Counting
Authorities have made robust security arrangements. Over 25,000 police personnel are deployed across Mumbai alone. Senior officers are supervising the arrangements. This ensures peaceful and orderly polling.
The votes will be counted tomorrow, on January 16. The results will determine the political control of these vital urban local bodies. The outcome will shape governance and development in Maharashtra's major cities for the coming years.
Citizens are participating actively in this foundational democratic process. Their votes will chart the course for local administration and civic amenities.
