The programme was held at the Penguin Hall Auditorium of Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo in Byculla.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) concluded the master training programme for officers and staff involved in the upcoming BMC Elections 2026.
The training, conducted as per the directives of the Maharashtra State Election Commission, prepares participants to train other officials ahead of the polling process.
The programme was held at the Penguin Hall Auditorium of Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo in Byculla, with the presence of Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr Ashwini Joshi, special executive officer (election) Vijay Balmwar, and Special Executive Officer (Slum Rehabilitation, Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority) Sandeep Kalambe among other dignitaries.
The training focused on the handling of electronic voting machines (EVM), ensuring their security, managing polling materials, responsibilities at each stage of voting, mock polls, pre-poll arrangements, voter ID verification, sealing of EVM , and duties on counting day. Officers trained on Friday will now conduct sessions for other officials starting December 29.
The first phase of training for BMC employees will take place from December 29, 2025, to January 2, 2026, followed by the second phase from January 5 to January 8, 2026. BMC Elections 2026 will be conducted across 10,231 polling stations, with around 64,375 officers and staff trained across seven centres. Sessions are organised in three time slots: 9 am to 11 am, 12 pm to 2 pm, and 3 pm to 5 pm. Each centre will have five trainers, totalling 35 trainers across seven centres.
Training centres include NM Joshi Marg Municipal School (South), Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan & Zoo (Byculla East), Sion Hospital Main Hall, Prabodhan Thackeray Natya Gruha (Borivali West), Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Natya Gruha (Vile Parle East), Bal Gandharva Sabhagruh (Bandra West), and Priyadarshini Indira Gandhi Krida Sankul (Mulund West).
The training programme is aimed at polling station officers, assistant polling station officers, polling officers, and support staff, ensuring a smooth, transparent, and fair conduct of BMC Elections 2026.
