As voting takes place in Maharashtra for elections to 29 municipal corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar encouraged citizens to actively participate in the democratic process. Akshay Kumar emphasized the importance of voting, stating that it is crucial for addressing issues like water supply, electricity, bad roads, and garbage in Mumbai. He urged everyone to exercise their right to vote and choose the right candidates for a better future.
Polling for the 29 municipal corporations began at 7.30 a.m. and will end at 5.30 p.m. The elections were initially set for 2,869 seats, including 227 in the BMC, but with 68 candidates elected unopposed, voting is now for 2,801 seats. A total of 3.48 crore voters will determine the fate of 15,931 candidates, with 1,729 candidates contesting in Mumbai alone. Vote counting will occur on January 16.
The State Election Commission has set up arrangements at 39,147 polling stations with 43,958 Control Units and 87,916 Ballot Units. In Mumbai, there are 10,111 polling stations with 11,349 Control Units and 22,698 Ballot Units. Municipal corporation elections are being held in various cities like Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nagpur, and Nashik, among others.
These elections mark the end of over six years since the previous ones, as the municipal corporations’ terms expired between 2020 and 2023. While most corporations follow a multi-member ward system, Mumbai operates under a single-member ward system for elections.
