24 December,2025 04:42 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
TMC chief Saurabh Rao holds a press conference at the Late Narendra Ballal Hall in the TMC headquarters. PIC/TMC
With the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) general elections for 2025-26 scheduled on January 15, 2026, the civic administration has completed all preparations to ensure a smooth and peaceful polling process, Election Officer and Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao said on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference, Rao appealed to citizens to actively participate in the electoral process, describing elections as a "festival of democracy" and urging voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers.
The press conference was held at the Late Narendra Ballal Hall at the TMC headquarters and was attended by Additional Commissioner-1 Sandeep Malvi, Additional Commissioner-2 Prashant Rode, Deputy Commissioner (Elections) Umesh Birari, along with senior officials G.G. Godepure, Mitali Sancheti, Deepak Zinjade and others.
Commissioner Rao outlined the election programme, stating that nomination forms will be distributed and accepted from December 23 to December 29, 2025 (excluding public holidays) between 11 am and 3 pm, and on December 30 between 11 am and 2 pm.
Scrutiny of nominations will be completed on December 31, following which the list of valid candidates will be published. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is January 2, 2026, while election symbols will be allotted on January 3. The final list of contesting candidates will also be published on the same day.
Polling will be held on January 15, 2026, counting of votes will take place on January 16, and the names of elected corporators will be published in the government gazette on January 19, Rao said.
The Thane Municipal Corporation comprises 33 wards. As per the 2011 Census, the city's population stands at 18,41,488. Ward No. 25 has the highest population at 62,697, while Ward No. 29 has the lowest population at 38,172.
The total number of registered voters is 16,49,867, including 8,63,878 male voters, 7,85,830 female voters and 159 voters under the âother' category.
For the conduct of elections, 11 Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers (Levels 1, 2 and 3) have been appointed across nine ward committees. A total of 2,013 polling stations have been set up across the city's 33 wards.
Each polling station will be staffed with a presiding officer, three polling officers, and a peon. Including a 20 per cent reserve workforce, orders are being issued for the deployment of 12,650 officers and employees.
The first phase of training for polling staff will be conducted on December 27, 28, and 29 at Ram Ganesh Gadkari Rangayatan and Dr Kashinath Ghanekar Natyagruha. The second phase of training will be organised at the returning officer level.
Rao said that 120 vehicles have been made available for election-related work. Facilities, including CCTV surveillance and webcasting, uninterrupted power supply, 7,500 Electronic Voting Machines (BU and CU), internet connectivity, computer systems, refreshments for staff, voter awareness initiatives, and printing of ballot-related stationery have been ensured with adequate manpower.
A single-window system has been implemented to facilitate election-related permissions. A total of 10 counters have been set up - one at each of the nine ward committee offices and one at the Civic Facility Centre at the municipal headquarters.
Through this system, candidates and political parties can seek permissions during the Model Code of Conduct period for public meetings, campaigning, use of grounds, loudspeakers, rallies, banners and hoardings, opening of party offices, as well as obtain certificates such as no-dues certificates, toilet usage certificates, non-contractor certificates, voter list extracts, and no-objection certificates from the Fire Department, police stations and traffic department.
A meeting of political parties was held on December 20 at the municipal headquarters, during which detailed information on the election process was shared and queries raised by party representatives were addressed, Rao said.
Since the Model Code of Conduct came into force, the TMC's encroachment department has removed 3,778 unauthorised posters across the city. Additionally, foundation stones of development projects bearing the names of public representatives have been covered, as mandated.
Each ward will have one model polling station, totalling 33 across the city. Women-only âSakhi' polling stations will also be set up in every ward. Facilities such as wheelchairs and ramps will be provided at polling stations to assist differently-abled voters.
For security, around 5,500 police personnel will be deployed zone-wise. Police presence will be ensured at all polling stations, sensitive polling booths, and within a 200-metre radius of polling centres.
Each revenue sector will have one police personnel, while each police sector will include one officer, four constables and a police vehicle. Sensitive locations will be guarded by SRPF or State Reserve Police Force units, along with Home Guards, Police Mitra, NSS, and NCC volunteers.
Police personnel will also be deployed for all SST and FST teams, at zone-level check-nakas, and at strong rooms, where one officer and two personnel will be posted in shifts to ensure round-the-clock security, Commissioner Saurabh Rao added.
