Battle for BMC: 3.48 Crore Voters Cast Their Ballots in Maharashtra's High-Stakes Civic Elections

Image Source: Internet

Maharashtra's municipal elections have entered a crucial phase, with over 3.48 crore eligible voters across 29 corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), casting their ballots. The polls, which began at 7:30 am on January 15 and will conclude by 5:30 pm, will decide the fate of 15,931 candidates, including prominent leaders like Raj and Uddhav Thackeray. A total of 2,869 seats are up for grabs, with voters in major cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur exercising their franchise. The BMC, which has been a BJP stronghold since 2022, is a key battleground, with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance facing stiff competition from the reunited Thackeray cousins' Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS. To ensure a smooth voting process, over 25,000 police personnel have been deployed across Mumbai. The results of the elections will be declared on January 16. The BMC has taken several measures to encourage voter participation, including decorating polling stations and setting up pink booths. The civic elections have been marked by key alliances, including the estranged Thackeray cousins joining forces and Ajit Pawar forming an alliance with his uncle's Nationalist Congress Party (SP) for western Maharashtra. The BJP-led Mahayuti has promised 50% concession for women on BEST bus travel, while the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance has promised a ₹1,500 monthly allowance for women domestic workers. The elections will be a test of the popularity of the various parties, with the BJP seeking to retain its hold on the BMC and the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS looking to make inroads. The results will also have a significant impact on the state's politics, with many analysts predicting a close contest.