Voting is currently ongoing for elections in 29 civic bodies, including the prominent Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), across Maharashtra. The BJP-led MahaYuti is in a closely contested battle with the Thackeray cousins, Raj and Uddhav, for control of the BMC, the country’s wealthiest civic body. A total of 2,869 seats in 893 wards are up for grabs, with 3.48 crore eligible voters deciding the fate of 15,931 candidates.
In the BMC alone, with an annual budget exceeding Rs 74,400 crore, nearly 1,700 candidates are vying for 227 seats after a four-year delay in polls. Vote counting for all 29 municipal corporations is scheduled for January 16. These civic elections, occurring after a gap of over six years due to legal and administrative challenges, will determine the political landscape of the region.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has been leading the ruling alliance’s campaign, rallying support for MahaYuti candidates, which include the BJP and the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. These elections are significant as they mark the first BMC polls since the Shiv Sena split in 2022, with Shinde’s faction breaking away with the support of most party MLAs.
The BJP has raised concerns about the possibility of a Muslim mayor if the Shiv Sena wins, a claim refuted by Uddhav Thackeray’s party, assuring voters of a Marathi mayor. Fadnavis has also stated that the next mayor will be Hindu and Marathi. In Mumbai, the BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP, Shiv Sena UBT, MNS, Congress, and VBA are contesting various seats to secure representation.
To ensure a smooth electoral process, over 25,000 police personnel have been deployed in Mumbai. Notably, ahead of the polls, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray reconciled after nearly two decades to consolidate Marathi votes, while NCP factions in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad reached a local understanding.
