Polling commenced at 7:30 am, with voters lining up at their respective booths across the city. As many as 1,700 candidates are contesting the elections in Mumbai
Shaina NC. Pic/PTI
As voting for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections began on Thursday morning, Shaina NC, a leader of the Shiv Sena, accused Opposition parties of making “excuses for their impending defeat” and said she was confident that Mumbaikars would vote for development.
‘Next Mumbai mayor will be Marathi manoos and Hindu’
Reiterating remarks made earlier by several leaders, Shaina NC said the next mayor of Mumbai would be a “Marathi manoos and a Hindu.”
“The Opposition is finding excuses for its defeat—sometimes blaming EVMs, sometimes the Election Commission, the ED, the CBI, voters or currency notes. That is their politics—photo-ops and theatrics. I am confident that Mumbaikars will vote only for development,” she told ANI after offering prayers at the Shree Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai.
Mayor must work for Mumbai’s development
She added, “The mayor of Mumbai will be a Marathi manus, a Hindu, and someone whose heart beats for this city—someone who wants to work for Mumbai and its development.”
Urging citizens to exercise their franchise, the Shiv Sena leader said voting had begun with the blessings of Maa Mumba Devi and Shri Siddhivinayak. “I appeal to every Mumbaikar to cast their vote. Voting is the essence of democracy and empowers people to raise their voices,” she said.
Polling begins at 7.30 am; 1,700 candidates in fray
Polling commenced at 7:30 am, with voters lining up at their respective booths across the city. As many as 1,700 candidates are contesting the elections in Mumbai.
According to official figures, 1,03,44,315 citizens are eligible to vote in the BMC polls. This includes 55,16,707 men, 48,26,509 women, and 1,099 voters in the ‘other’ category.
Civic polls underway across Maharashtra
Besides Mumbai, municipal elections are being held for over 28 other corporations across Maharashtra. The counting of votes is scheduled for Friday, January 16.
To encourage voter participation, the Maharashtra government has declared January 15 a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act. The holiday applies to government and semi-government offices, corporations and banks within the limits of the 29 municipal corporations going to the polls.
BJP–Shiv Sena alliance contests BMC polls
The Bharatiya Janata Party is contesting the BMC elections in alliance with the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) led by Eknath Shinde. Meanwhile, the National Congress Party, which is part of the Mahayuti in the state and the NDA at the Centre, has joined hands with the NCP (SP) in key municipal corporations, including Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune.
List of major civic bodies going to polls
Prominent civic bodies going to the polls include Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, Kalyan-Dombivli, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar, Panvel, Nashik, Malegaon, Ahilyanagar, Jalgaon, Dhule, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Kolhapur, Ichalkaranji, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nanded-Waghala, Parbhani, Jalna, Latur, Amravati, Akola, Nagpur and Chandrapur.
(With inputs from ANI)
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