BMC elections 2026: Sena (UBT), MNS question polls over faulty voter lists

The 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. Mumbais 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 Maharashtras 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 Thackerays Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Sharad Pawar-headed NCP (SP). (With inputs from PTI)