English
English
English
Maharashtra has announced dates for municipal corporation elections, including the crucial BMC polls. Voting will be held on January 15, with results on January 16, setting the stage for an intense political battle across the state.
Municipal Corporation Election Dates Announced
Mumbai: The dates for the long-awaited municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra have finally been announced. State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare informed that the Model Code of Conduct has been implemented in 29 municipal corporations across the state since December 15.
The State Election Commission has begun all preparations to complete the election process in a time-bound manner. The commission aims to complete the local body elections before January 31, 2026.
According to the announced schedule, voting for all 29 municipal corporations, including the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), will be held on January 15, while the counting of votes will take place on January 16.
EC to Bombay HC: VVPAT not mandatory for local body elections in Maharashtra
Approximately 10,111 polling stations will be set up across the state. The voter list of July 1, 2025, will be used for the elections to ensure that eligible voters have ample opportunity to cast their votes.
For the BMC elections, candidates can file their nominations from December 23 to December 30. The last date for withdrawal of nominations has been set as January 2, 2026. Following this, candidates will be allotted their election symbols by January 3. The election campaign will then intensify.
The terms of 27 municipal corporations in Maharashtra had already expired, and these elections had been pending since 2022. The elections were repeatedly postponed due to issues related to ward delimitation and reservations.
Finally, the Supreme Court gave clear instructions that the local body elections should be completed by January 31, 2026, after which the election announcement became possible.
The BMC elections are considered extremely important not only for Maharashtra but also for national politics. The BMC is the richest municipal corporation in the country, with an annual budget running into thousands of crores of rupees.
This is why all major political parties put in their full effort to gain control of it. A total of 227 corporators are elected to the BMC, who have a significant impact on the city's administration and development. The 2017 Elections and the Changed Political Landscape
In the 2017 BMC elections, the BJP won 82 seats, while the undivided Shiv Sena secured 84. The Congress won 31 seats and the NCP 9. At that time, the mayor's post went to the Shiv Sena. However, the situation has completely changed now.
Samajwadi Party's big announcement: Will contest 150 seats alone in BMC elections
Both the Shiv Sena and the NCP have split into two factions. Currently, there is a direct contest between the Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the state, and the Mahayuti government, led by Devendra Fadnavis, is in power.
Following the announcement of the elections, all political parties have intensified their activities. Everyone's attention is particularly focused on the BMC elections, as their results could determine the future direction of Maharashtra politics.
