Polling is underway across Maharashtra on Thursday for elections to 29 municipal corporations, including the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), marking the return of elected urban local bodies after a prolonged delay.
Voting began in the morning and will continue till evening across major urban centres such as Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Nashik, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Election officials said polling is being conducted peacefully under enhanced security arrangements, with special focus on sensitive and high-turnout areas.
According to official estimates, over 3.48 crore voters are eligible to participate in the civic polls, which will decide the leadership of local governing bodies that have been functioning under administrators for several years. A total of 2,869 seats are at stake across the 29 municipal corporations, with more than 15,900 candidates contesting.
The elections assume significance as they are the first major statewide civic exercise in years and are expected to reshape urban governance across Maharashtra. The outcome will determine control over key civic institutions responsible for essential services such as water supply, sanitation, urban transport and infrastructure development.
The BMC election is being closely watched due to the corporation’s vast administrative authority and financial capacity. As the civic body governing India’s financial capital, the BMC plays a central role in urban planning and public service delivery, making the contest politically and administratively significant.
To ensure smooth polling, authorities have deployed additional police personnel and implemented measures such as webcasting and close monitoring at identified locations. Election officials said no major incidents had been reported during the initial hours of voting.
In a bid to encourage voter participation, the state government has declared a public holiday in areas where polling is taking place. Officials expressed confidence that turnout would improve as the day progresses, particularly in metropolitan regions where civic issues directly impact daily life.
Political parties and candidates have urged voters to exercise their franchise, emphasising the importance of local self-governance. The elections are also being seen as an indicator of public sentiment in urban Maharashtra ahead of future electoral contests.
Officials confirmed that counting of votes will take place on January 16, with results expected later in the day. The results are likely to influence administrative priorities and political equations across the state’s urban centres.
Election authorities said they are monitoring the polling process closely to ensure transparency, fairness and adherence to electoral guidelines.
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