Over one crore voters in Mumbai will decide who governs the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the next five years when elections to the country’s richest civic body are held next month. The BMC on Tuesday published the final electoral rolls on its official portal, showing a total of 1,03,44,315 voters spread across all 227 wards of Mumbai. The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) announced the election programme on Monday. High-stakes elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including cash-rich Mumbai civic body, will be held on January 15, with counting of votes scheduled for January 16. The upcoming polls will see a direct contest between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for control of key urban centres in the state. In Mumbai, civic elections are being held almost nine years after the last polls in 2017. The five-year term of BMC corporators ended on March 7, 2022, following which the civic body has been run by an administrator appointed by the state government. Voters in Mumbai According to the final rolls, Mumbai has 55,16,707 male voters, 48,26,509 female voters, and 1,077 registered as ‘other’ voters, reported the PTI. During the 2017 BMC elections, the city had 91,80,497 voters, including 50,30,363 men, 41,49,753 women, and 381 other voters, indicating a significant rise in the electorate over the past eight years. Data released by the civic body shows that Polling Ward 164 in the administrative ‘L’ ward has the highest number of voters at 62,945, followed by Polling Ward 66 in ‘K-West’ ward with 61,799 voters, as per the PTI. On the other hand, Polling Ward 142 in ‘M-East’ ward has the lowest number of voters at 31,575, followed by Polling Ward 1 in ‘R-North’ ward with 31,916 voters. ‘Other’ voters data Among the 1,077 other voters, the highest number -- 281 -- has been recorded in Polling Ward 34 under ‘P-North’ ward, followed by 111 in Polling Ward 124 under ‘N’ ward, according to official data, according to the PTI. With the final voter list now published, political parties have intensified preparations for what is expected to be one of the most closely watched civic elections in Maharashtra, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
16 December,2025 05:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said that his party and the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will contest the upcoming BMC Election 2026 together, reported the PTI. He said that the alliance which was likely to be announced soon will also be in major cities, including Thane, Pune and Nashik apart from Mumbai. Raut said that a formal announcement of the alliance is likely to be made in the coming week. Speaking to reporters, Sanjay Raut said that the discussions between Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray are progressing, and both leaders are expected to share the stage during the official announcement of the tie-up. Focus on Mumbai civic polls Sanjay Raut said that although elections will be held in 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, the “real battle” will be for Mumbai. He noted that the city has a special political and historical significance, having played a key role in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, according to the PTI. Elections to all 29 municipal corporations in the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), are scheduled to be held on January 15. According to Raut, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS will jointly contest civic polls in cities such as Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayandar, Pune and Nashik. He said decisions regarding alliances in other municipal bodies will be taken by the respective local units. The Rajya Sabha MP also met MNS chief Raj Thackeray earlier in the day, reportedly to discuss seat-sharing and other related issues. After the meeting, MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar confirmed that talks between the two parties would continue, adding that, for now, Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS are coming together. Congress' role uncertain Sanjay Raut said he had spoken to the Congress leadership and urged the party to contest the civic polls as part of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which he believes should also include the MNS. However, he claimed the Congress has left the decision to its local leadership. “I don’t see Congress coming together at this point,” Raut said, adding that the party should avoid taking steps that could indirectly benefit the BJP. He also warned that people would remember the Congress’s stand in future Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections, according to the PTI. He said that he will also hold discussions with NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, another key constituent of the MVA. While the NCP (SP) may not have a major presence in Mumbai, he said the party should contest alongside Shiv Sena (UBT) in other civic bodies across the state. The upcoming civic polls will be the first major local elections after the splits in the Shiv Sena in 2022 and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 2023, developments that significantly reshaped Maharashtra’s political landscape, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
16 December,2025 04:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA Level-1 fire broke out at the Perfect Paper Corn Company in the Charkop area of Mumbai’s Kandivali West on Tuesday afternoon, officials said. The incident was reported to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC’s) Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) at 2.37 pm. The fire, confined to electric wiring, installations, and paints, affected an area of approximately 3,000 square feet on the ground floor of the ground plus one-floor building. Smoke was reported inside the premises. The MFB declared the blaze a Level-1 fire at 3:02 pm. Several agencies were mobilised, including the MFB, police, Adani Power, 108 ambulance, and ward staff. No injuries have been reported so far, officials added. Mathura: 13 dead, 25 injured in Yamuna Expressway pile-up; buses catch fire At least 13 people were killed and 35 others injured in a devastating multi-vehicle pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura during the early hours of Tuesday, news agency PTI reported. The collision, which occurred amid dense fog, also triggered a massive fire, leading to chaos at the scene. The accident took place around 4.30 am when at least seven buses and three smaller vehicles collided with each other due to poor visibility. The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of the Baldev Police Station. Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar, while briefing the media, said, “The vehicles collided due to low visibility on the Agra-to-Noida side of the Yamuna Motorway. Some vehicles also caught fire. All injured have been sent to the hospital.” Providing further details, Baldev Police Station House Officer (SHO) Ranjana Sachan said, “Two of the deceased were identified as 44-year-old Akhilendra Pratap Yadav, a resident of Prayagraj, and 75-year-old Rampal, from Maharajganj district.” She added, “13 people died of burns.” On the condition of the injured, the SHO said, “Of the injured, fifteen were admitted to the district hospital, nine each to a community health centre and a private hospital in Baldev, and two to SN Medical College, Agra.” The Mathura Police, in a post on X, stated that the pile-up near Milestone 127 involved seven buses and three smaller vehicles, adding that none of the injured are in critical condition. SSP Shlok Kumar further said, “The passengers were sent to their destinations in government vehicles.” He added that traffic diversions had been put in place as the road remained blocked following the accident. (With PTI inputs)
16 December,2025 04:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai is gearing up for its biggest civic battle. With 227 seats up for grabs, millions of voters, and strict spending limits for candidates, the stakes have never been higher. From ward-wise distribution to key voter statistics, understanding the numbers behind the polls gives a clearer picture of what’s at play in Asia’s richest civic body. After a delay of 34 months, elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will finally be held on January 15, 2026, with counting scheduled for January 16, 2026. The previous five-year term ended in February 2022. The State Election Commission (SEC) announced the schedule, confirming that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into effect immediately. Including the BMC’s 227 seats, a total of 2,869 seats across 29 municipal corporations will go to the polls. Along with Mumbai, municipal elections will also be held on the same day in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar, Panvel, Kalyan-Dombivli, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi-Nizampur city and 20 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra. We break down the seats, voters, spending limits, ward details and all the essential statistics you need to know ahead of the 2026 BMC elections. Key figures for BMC polls Polling stations: 10,111 Control units: 11,349 Ballot units: 22,698 Election officers: 290 Assistant election officers: 870 Total staff required: 1,96,605 Overall polling infrastructure (all 29 civic bodies): Polling stations: 39,147 Control units: 43,958 Ballot units: 87,916 Key voter statistics: Male voters: 1,81,93,666 Female voters: 1,66,79,755Other voters: 4596 Total voters (29 corporations): 3,48,78,017 Seat breakup: OBC: 759 ST: 77 SC: 341 Women reserved: 1,442 Others: 250Total seats: 2,869 Important dates Election notifications: BMC – Dec 16, 2025; Other corporations – Dec 18, 2025 Nominations: Dec 23–30, 2025 Scrutiny: Dec 31, 2025 Withdrawal of nominations: Jan 2, 2026 Symbol allotment and final list: Jan 3, 2026 Spending limits (per candidate) BMC and A-class: Rs 15 lakh B-class: Rs 13 lakh C-class: Rs 11 lakh D-class: Rs 9 lakh (Source: State Election Commission) Notes: Mobile phones are not permitted inside polling stations. Pink polling stations, staffed entirely by women, will be set up in areas with higher female voter turnout. Nomination forms can be filled online but must be submitted offline. Caste validity certificates must be submitted within six months of the results; failure will cancel the election retrospectively. The Raj Thackeray-led MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) had raised objections to over 11 lakh duplicate names in the voters’ list, demanding necessary corrections before polling. The SEC said BMC officials removed several duplicate entries through field verification and software checks. “If there are any remaining duplicates, they have been marked with a star. This will help identify voters with multiple entries on voting day,” the SEC said. The BMC polls are expected to witness a direct contest between two major alliances in the state: the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The Mahayuti, which currently governs Maharashtra, comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The main opposition alliance, the MVA, includes the Indian National Congress, the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, and the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP-SP. After remaining politically apart for nearly two decades, the Thackeray brothers—Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray—have reunited. The move is being seen as a significant development in Mumbai’s political landscape, with the alliance expected to reshape electoral dynamics in the civic polls. The last BMC elections were held in 2017. Reacting to the poll announcement, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “I am sure people will once again vote for development and progress.
16 December,2025 04:12 PM IST | MumbaiIn the wake of an alleged molestation of a young woman passenger by a bike rider in Kalyan, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has called an urgent meeting of the motor vehicles department (MVD) to review the functioning of app-based bike taxi and cab aggregators operating in the state. According to officials, the emergency meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday at 10.30 am at the minister’s office in Mantralaya. Following the incident, Sarnaik has sought an explanation on why the temporary permits granted to app-based aggregators such as Rapido, Ola, and Uber should not be cancelled, amid allegations that they are flouting transport regulations and operating illegal passenger services. The transport minister has directed the department to examine violations related to unauthorised passenger transport and take appropriate action in accordance with the law. He has also asked officials to review safety norms and regulatory compliance, particularly in view of concerns over passenger security. The minister’s move comes days after the Regional Transport Office (RTO) filed a case against Roppen Transport Pvt Ltd, which operates Rapido, for allegedly running illegal bike taxi services in Mumbai despite a government ban. mid-day.com had reported on December 5 that motor vehicle inspectors conducted a decoy operation in Nehru Nagar and Kurla by booking bike rides through the Rapido app to test the legality of the service. According to police, three bike taxis arrived as per the bookings and were fined Rs 10,000 under Sections 66 and 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act for operating without a valid permit, along with Section 142, which pertains to permanent disablement of vehicles. Rapido denies affiliation with suspect Rapido clarified that the accused “is not, and has never been, a Rapido Captain,” adding that his name was incorrectly linked to the brand in early reports. According to the company, the individual had applied to join Rapido but was denied onboarding as he failed to meet the company’s eligibility and verification standards. “As confirmed by the authorities, the complainant had booked a bike taxi ride on another platform on December 13, 2025,” the spokesperson said. The company further stated that all captains registered on Rapido undergo rigorous onboarding protocols, including background verification, strict KYC checks, mandatory training on conduct and safety, and immediate suspension upon receiving credible complaints. It also highlighted additional safety measures such as post-10 pm safety check-ins for women riders, 24×7 in-app SOS support, and prompts encouraging riders to verify captain and vehicle details before every trip. Rapido reiterated that it would extend full cooperation to law enforcement agencies whenever required.
16 December,2025 02:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that recent statements made by leaders within the Mahayuti alliance during the municipal council elections have exposed growing internal discord. Pawar said the remarks indicated that political decisions were being driven by narrow self-interest, adding that the BJP had begun “revealing its true colours,” with its allied parties appearing to endorse or remain silent on the developments. अलीकडेच झालेल्या नगरपरिषद निवडणुकांमध्ये महायुतीतील नेत्यांनीच भाजपबद्दल केलेली वक्तव्य बघितल्यानंतर आपला स्वार्थ साधला गेला की भाजप आपले खरे रंग दाखवायला सुरवात करते यावर त्यांच्याच मित्र पक्षांनी शिक्कामोर्तब केलं. काल निवडणुका जाहीर झाल्या झाल्या आम्ही पुणे व पिंपरी चिंचवड… — Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) December 16, 2025 He also criticised the Chief Minister’s announcement, made shortly after the election schedule was declared, that the Mahayuti would not contest the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic polls together. According to Pawar, the decision reflected the BJP’s tendency to marginalise even its own partners. “Earlier, allies were ridiculed, and now one of them has been conveniently sidelined,” Pawar said, describing the situation as a result of “unrestrained political ambition.” He warned that if such an approach continues, it would not be surprising to see a political scenario in 2029 where the BJP is pitched against all other parties. Rohit Pawar alleges BJP poaching MLAs from Mahayuti ahead of 2029 polls Earlier, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) leader Rohit Pawar alleged that the BJP was systematically poaching MLAs from the ruling Mahayuti allies in Maharashtra, including Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP ahead of the 2029 elections. According to the PTI, while addressing a press conference, Rohit Pawar said, “BJP is breaking Ajit Pawar's MLAs one by one.” He further claimed that several MLAs from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP are likely to switch to the BJP before the next state polls. Citing internal discontent, Pawar pointed to recent actions by ruling party members. He mentioned Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, who had raised concerns about over one lakh bogus voters in his Buldhana constituency. Despite repeated complaints, Gaikwad alleged that the district collector’s office failed to act or update the electoral rolls. As per the PTI, he also criticised NCP MLA Sangram Jagtap, who recently urged people to buy Diwali items only from Hindu traders, a statement that aligned with the BJP's narrative. Though Ajit Pawar reprimanded him, Jagtap remained unapologetic, Pawar added. Rohit warned that both Deputy Chief Ministers, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, may soon find themselves struggling to stop what he called the BJP’s "vote theft" strategy. (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2025 12:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat on Monday claimed that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) will face defeat in the upcoming BMC elections, alleging the party has lost both its organisational strength and public connect, reported the PTI. Speaking to reporters, Shirsat, who belongs to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, said that the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction has been left without a functioning cadre. “They neither meet citizens nor support their own workers. Around 55–57 corporators elected earlier are now with us. They are struggling to even find candidates,” he claimed, according to the PTI. Mumbai Polls a fight for survival Calling the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election crucial, Shirsat said that it was the last major battle for the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. “This election will determine their very existence. It is hard to imagine where the party will stand after the polls,” he said. Criticism of Uddhav Thackeray’s priorities Shirsat accused Uddhav Thackeray of focusing on political posts rather than public issues. “He was more concerned about securing the Leader of Opposition post during the Maharashtra Assembly Winter Session than raising matters affecting ordinary people,” the minister said. High ticket demand in Mahayuti Commenting on local body polls across Maharashtra, Shirsat acknowledged intense competition for tickets within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP and Ajit Pawar’s NCP. “Only one person can be given a ticket, so dissatisfaction is natural. Some leaders may go here and there, and we cannot stop them,” he said, the news agency reported on Monday. Responding to claims by Bahujan Vikas Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar that Eknath Shinde could return as chief minister, Shirsat said the issue was not relevant at present. “Any future decision will be taken collectively by the NDA and the Mahayuti,” he added, the news agency reported,. Former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Tejasvee Ghosalkar joins BJP Meanwhile, Tejasvee Ghosalkar joined the BJP on Monday in the presence of the party’s Mumbai president Ameet Satam and MLC Pravin Darekar. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Ghosalkar said she had worked sincerely in the Shiv Sena (UBT) and would now put in even greater effort for her new party.“I will accept any responsibility assigned to me by the party. There are many things I would like to say, but this is not the right time,” she said, according to the PTI. She also voiced disappointment over the slow progress of the investigation into the murder of her husband. “The CBI probe into my husband’s murder is moving at a slow pace. I hope it will be completed at the earliest,” she said. In September last year, the Bombay High Court transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing lapses and unresolved aspects in the police inquiry. Ghosalkar served as a corporator of the then undivided Shiv Sena between 2017 and 2022. She later resigned from her positions in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), citing personal reasons. (with PTI inputs)
16 December,2025 12:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe State Election Commission (SEC) has announced that elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), will be held on January 15, 2026. Polling will be held from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm on January 15 and the counting of votes will take place on January 16, 2026. State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare made the announcement at a press conference in Mumbai. He said that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into force from December 15, 2025, across all municipal corporation areas. Model Code of Conduct come into effect With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect in all municipal corporation areas. No policy decisions related to these areas can be taken during this period, except in cases of natural disasters or emergency relief. Municipal Corporations and term expiry Out of the 29 municipal corporations Jalna and Ichalkaranji are newly formed, the terms of five corporations ended in 2020 and the terms of 18 corporations ended in 2022. According to the officials, the terms of four corporations ended in 2023 and the BMC’s term ended in March 2022. Notification dates and voting time The election notification for the BMC will be issued on December 16, 2025, while notifications for the remaining 28 municipal corporations will be issued on December 18, 2025. Multi-member ward system According to the State Election Commission, except for the BMC elections in the remaining 28 municipal corporations will be held under a multi-member ward system. In the BMC, voters will cast one vote per ward In other corporations, voters may cast three to five votes, depending on the number of seats in the ward. Nomination process offline Although an online system is available, the SEC has decided that nomination papers will be accepted only offline for municipal corporation elections, considering demands from political parties and candidates. Caste validity certificate rules Candidates contesting from reserved seats must submit a caste certificate and caste validity certificate with their nomination papers. If the caste validity certificate is not available, candidates must submit proof of application and an undertaking to produce the certificate within six months of the election result. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of the election retrospectively. Voters, polling stations and EVMs According to the SEC, there are 3.48 crore voters across the 29 municipal corporations. To conduct the elections: - 39,147 polling stations have been set up - 43,958 control units and 87,916 ballot units of EVMs will be used - For the BMC alone 10,111 polling stations, 11,349 control units, 22,698 ballot units. Measures against duplicate voters The voter lists are based on Assembly constituency electoral rolls as of July 1, 2025. The SEC has taken steps to identify possible duplicate voters. Such names are marked with a special symbol in the voter list. Voters with duplicate entries will be allowed to vote only at the polling station selected after verification. ‘Matadhikar’ mobile app The SEC has launched the ‘Matadhikar’ mobile app to help voters -- search their name in the voter list, find polling station details and also view candidate information. "The app is available on the Google Play Store. Voters can search using their full name or EPIC number," said an official. The SEC has directed all municipal commissioners to run large-scale voter awareness campaigns to increase turnout. Facilities for senior citizens and persons with disabilities The poll officials said that special arrangements will be made at polling stations for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and women with infants. The facilities will include ramps, wheelchairs, drinking water, shade, electricity and toilets. "Mobile phones will not be allowed inside polling stations," said an official. Election staff and security - 290 Returning Officers - 870 Assistant Returning Officers - Nearly 1.96 lakh election staff have been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the elections. Campaigning deadline Campaigning will end at 5.30 pm on January 14, 2026. No political advertisements will be allowed in print, electronic or social media after this time. The officials said that the Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC) will be set up at municipal and state levels to certify political advertisements, monitor paid news and address complaints related to media coverage. Key election dates - Nominations: December 23 to December 30, 2025 - Scrutiny: December 31, 2025 - Withdrawal deadline: January 2, 2026 - Symbols and final candidate list: January 3, 2026 - Polling: January 15, 2026 - Counting: January 16, 2026
16 December,2025 12:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday that the BJP and Shiv Sena will contest the upcoming civic elections together in most municipalities, reported the PTI. He said that the efforts were also underway to finalise seat-sharing arrangements among the Mahayuti allies, including the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), in as many corporations as possible. Fadnavis stated that the prolonged rule by administrators in several urban bodies was against democratic principles. He welcomed the State Election Commission’s (SEC) announcement of the schedule for elections to 29 municipal corporations, including the cash-rich BMC 2026 polls in Mumbai. Mahayuti will work together CM Fadnavis said the Mahayuti alliance, which includes BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, will generally work together. However, in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP are likely to contest separately, in what he called a friendly contest, due to both parties being major players in the region, according to the PTI. "There will be a BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in most cities, while in some areas, BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP may contest together," CM Fadnavis said, as per the PTI. "In a few places, BJP and NCP might also form an alliance. Shiv Sena will remain part of the Mahayuti almost everywhere," he said. He expressed confidence that the Mahayuti coalition would secure a majority in municipal bodies, citing the development work carried out by the government over the last five years. Friendly contests in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad CM Fadnavis noted that in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, a separate contest between the BJP and NCP would be amicable, without any hostility. He highlighted the BJP’s contribution to urban development in these cities and said discussions with Ajit Pawar had ensured a cooperative approach, the news agency reported. Electoral concerns On concerns about electoral rolls, CM Fadnavis said discrepancies could not justify postponing elections. He mentioned that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process had begun to address these issues. He also suggested that in future, electoral rolls could be placed on blockchain to enhance accuracy and transparency, as per the PTI. Regarding Nagpur and Chandrapur, he noted that reservation quotas had breached the 50 per cent ceiling. Although the Supreme Court has allowed elections, results will be subject to final court decisions. Development projects and urban governance Speaking after inaugurating development projects worth Rs 3,000 crore, CM Fadnavis reiterated that the upcoming civic polls would give the public a chance to support continued urban development, the news agency reported.
16 December,2025 12:18 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentAfter a delay of almost three years, exactly 34 months, elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will finally be held on January 15, 2026, with counting on January 16. The previous five-year term ended in February 2022. Along with Mumbai, municipal elections will also be held the same day in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mira Bhayandar, Vasai Virar, Panvel, Kalyan Dombivli, Pune and 20 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra. The State Election Commission (SEC) announced the schedule on Monday. Including the BMC’s 227 seats, a total of 2869 seats will go to the polls. State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare confirmed that the model code of conduct comes into effect immediately. The Raj Thackeray-led MNS and the Shiv Sena (UBT) had objected to more than 11 lakh duplicate names in the voters’ list and demanded that polls should not be held until corrections were made. Graphics/istock Asked whether the anomalies had been fixed, Waghmare said, “The poll schedule has been announced only after addressing issues that political parties raised before the commission.” The SEC said BMC officials removed several duplicate entries through field verification and software checks. “If there are any remaining duplicates, they have been marked with a star. This will help identify voters with multiple entries on voting day,” the SEC said. EC had set up a ‘pink booth’ at Sir JJ School of Art in 2024. FILE PIC Nominations will be accepted from December 23 to December 30, with scrutiny on December 31. Withdrawals must be made by January 2. The final list of candidates and symbols will be released on January 3. The last BMC elections were held in 2017. Though the term ended in 2022, fresh polls were delayed due to a seat reservation case pending in the Supreme Court. The court has now directed that all pending local body elections in Maharashtra, including the BMC, must be completed before January 31, 2026. Reacting to the poll announcement, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “I am sure people will once again vote for development and progress.” A kite flying challenge Mumbaikars cast their vote during BMC elections in Jogeshwari in 2017. File pic/NIMESH DAVE The January 15 polling date could create a hiccup for the BJP, as a large section of Mumbai’s Gujarati community traditionally travels to Surat and Vadodara for Uttarayan, the kite flying festival, on January 14. Families usually spend two to three days celebrating, and with the festival and polling falling back-to-back, many voters may be out of Mumbai on voting day. While older voters may stay back, younger and first-time voters are more likely to prioritise travel, raising concerns about turnout among a demographic considered part of the BJP’s core support base. Dates to remember Voting DayJanuary 15 (Thursday) Voting time7:30 am to 5:30 pm Counting DayJanuary 16 (Friday) CampaigningCampaigning ends 48 hours before polling; all political ads prohibited after 5:30 pm on Jan 14, 2026 Stats for BMC Polling stations10,111 Control units11,349 Ballot units22,698 Other dates >> Nominations December 23-30, 2025>> Scrutiny December 31, 2025>> Withdrawal January 2, 2026>> Symbol allotment and final list January 3, 2026 Mobile phonesNot permitted inside polling stations Pink polling stationsTo be staffed entirely by women, in areas with high women voter turnout. Information available on the Matadhikar app Total seats2869 Including227 seats of BMC Rs 15 L Voter Assistance‘Matadhikar’ mobile app (voter details, booth info, candidate lists). Details also on: https://mahasecvoterlist.in/ Source: State Election Commission (SEC)
16 December,2025 12:17 PM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarThe Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Monday questioned the logic behind holding elections to 29 civic bodies without correcting "irregularities" in the voters' roll, reported news agency PTI. Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said the final rolls have not been released yet. "If there are mistakes in the final rolls, who will address them?" he asked. Polls for 29 municipal corporations, including the cash-rich Mumbai, will be held on January 15, and votes will be counted on January 16. Former Mumbai mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Kishori Pednekar alleged flaws in the voters' list. "People have not been told whether the electoral rolls have been rectified. How appropriate is it to announce polls when no correction has been made in the electoral rolls?" she asked, reported PTI. MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said polls are being held with faulty electoral rolls. "Raj (Thackeray) Saheb has told us about the treatment bogus voters deserved. Mumbai's mayor will be a Marathi manoos, and they (Marathi people) will vote in BMC polls with the same intention," Deshpande said, reported PTI. The opposition, especially cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, have been very critical of the electoral rolls and claimed several irregularities in the voters' list. The upcoming BMC elections 2026 will be a crucial political showdown between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in major urban centres, a year after the assembly polls. This will also be a do-or-die battle for the Thackeray cousins and test the utility of 'Brand Thackeray', which took a massive beating in the assembly polls. Ahead of the polls, Uddhav Thackeray mended ties with his once-estranged cousin Raj and both Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS are expected to join hands to put up a united fight. Mahayuti, Oppn MVA to face-off on Jan 15 in 'Maha' battle for Mumbai, 28 other civic bodies High-stakes polls to 29 municipal corporations, including the cash-rich Mumbai, on January 15 will see the ruling Mahayuti and Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) battling it out for electoral supremacy in Maharashtra's major urban centres. The poll schedule announcement was made by Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday in compliance of an order from the Supreme Court fixing January 31 next year as the deadline for holding the long-pending local body elections in the state. The court in September this year had also censured the SEC for its "failure to take prompt action" and adhere to earlier timelines. The January 15 elections, involving 2,869 seats and over 3.48 crore voters, set the stage for a crucial political showdown between the Mahayuti comprising BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the MVA coalition of Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Sharad Pawar-headed NCP (SP). (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2025 12:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
