Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

Counting of votes for high-stakes civic polls begins; all eyes on Mumbai

Counting of votes polled in elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra began on Friday morning with the spotlight on Mumbai, where the BJP-led Mahayuti bloc is locked in a prestige battle with the reunited Thackeray cousins for control of India's richest civic body. Polling for 2,869 seats spread across 893 wards in these municipal corporations, including 227 in Mumbai, took place on Thursday. As many as 15,931 candidates are in the fray in the 29 civic corporations, which had 3.48 crore eligible voters. Around 50 per cent polling was recorded in the 29 municipal corporations, State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said after the end of voting. A voter turnout of 52.94 per cent was recorded in the Mumbai civic polls, down from 55.53 per cent in the last elections in 2017, officials said on Friday. In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), whose annual budget is over Rs 74, 400 crore, 1,700 candidates are vying for 227 seats in elections being held after a

Mumbai civic polls: 52.94% turnout recorded; down from 55.53% in 2017

A voter turnout of 52.94 per cent was recorded in the Mumbai civic polls, down from 55.53 per cent in the last elections in 2017, officials said on Friday. According to data released by the civic body, ward number 114 in suburban Bhandup recorded the highest turnout at 64.53 per cent, while ward number 227 in south Mumbai's Colaba area reported the lowest turnout at 20.88 per cent. Of the over 1.03 crore eligible voters in the metropolis, 52.94 per cent exercised their franchise on Thursday between 7.30 am and 5.30 pm, they said. Over 15 hours after the polling, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has declared the final voter turnout. Officials said counting of votes will start at 10 am at 25 designated counting centres across Mumbai. The election to the 227-member BMC, which governs India's richest municipal corporation with a budget of Rs 74,400 crore, is being held after a long gap, making it a key political contest. Nearly 1,700 candidates are in the fray this time.

BMC polls: Voters claim ink can be wiped with acetone; poll panel responds

Videos of voters wiping 'indelible' ink with acetone raised questions over poll transparency, but the State Election Commission and BMC said such acts are illegal

BMC elections see 17.73% voter turnout in first four hours of polling

An average of 6.98 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections on Thursday, officials said. Polling began at 7.30 am amid tight security arrangements across Mumbai and will continue till 5.30 pm. The average voter turnout stood at 6.98 per cent till 9.30 am, a BMC spokesperson said. Data released by the civic body showed wide variations in voter participation across wards. The highest turnout of 11.57 per cent was recorded in ward number 18 in the western suburbs, while the lowest turnout of 1.68 per cent was reported in ward number 162 in the eastern suburbs till 9.30 am.

Maharashtra civic polls: Fadnavis urges people to vote in large numbers

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday appealed to the people to turn out in large numbers to vote in the civic polls, saying widespread participation was key to building better cities. Speaking to reporters after exercising his franchise in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation polls, Fadnavis said not voting amounts to a dereliction of responsibility. Voting was underway on Thursday for 29 municipal corporations in the state, including Mumbai and Nagpur. "I appeal to everyone to come out and vote to create better cities," he said. Fadnavis slammed the Opposition for casting doubts on institutions like the State Election Commission. "They should write a new script and stop practising what they will speak tomorrow after defeat. Our win is sure in all the 29 corporations," the senior BJP leader said. Fadnavis also said that the Opposition's criticism of the Printing Auxiliary Display (PAD) units during the civic elections was unnecessary, and asserted that the machine

BMC polls: 1,700 candidates in race for 227 seats as Mumbai votes today

As many as 1,700 candidates will vie for 227 seats in the key elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) with the civic body saying on Wednesday all arrangements have been made for peaceful and orderly polling on Thursday. In a press release, the civic body said preparations for polling were completed on Wednesday with the distribution of EVMs and other election materials carried out at 23 divisional centres in the metropolis. Voting will start at 7.30 am and end at 5.30 pm, while counting of votes will be conducted at 23 designated centres across Mumbai under the supervision of the respective Returning Officers (ROs) on January 16. As per the release, the corporation has finalised counting centres for all 227 wards. Each centre has been equipped with secure strong rooms for custody of election materials, including EVMs, and arrangements have been made to ensure transparency during the counting process. Civic officials said polling staff reported in large numbers ..

BMC elections: Voter card, 12 other identity proofs valid for polling

Electors in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls will be required to present either a voter photo ID card or any one of the 12 alternative identity documents approved by the State Election Commission to cast their vote, officials said. Polling will be held across 227 civic wards from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm on Thursday and counting of votes will take place on Friday. A total of 1,700 candidates are in the fray, including 878 women and 822 men. As many as 1,03,44,315 persons -- ?55,15,707 men, 48,26,509 women and 1,099 others -- are eligible to vote. Municipal commissioner and district election officer Bhushan Gagrani on Tuesday said that voters must establish their identity at the polling station by presenting a photo identity card. Those without a voter ID may submit any one of the 12 notified documents, which include the passport, Aadhaar card, driving licence, PAN card, government-issued photo identity cards and bank or post office passbooks with ...

Political parties realign in quest for BMC ahead of crucial civic polls

As Mumbai votes after nine years, the ₹74,000-crore BMC budget-bigger than many states-puts fiscal strength, infrastructure gaps and poll promises under sharp focus

BMC polls: Several candidates' nomination forms rejected after scrutiny

Scrutiny of nomination papers for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections has led to the rejection of several candidates across parties due to incomplete documents, errors in forms and failure to submit mandatory certificates, election officials have said. A total of 2,516 nomination papers were filed till December 30, the final day. As the forms were examined on Wednesday, those of candidates from the Congress, BJP, AAP, NCP (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and several independents were rejected. As most parties finalised seat-sharing arrangements and issued A' and B' forms (key documents to file nominations) only in the last two to three days to prevent rebellion, a rush of nominations was witnessed on December 29 and 30. Officials said delays in finalising candidatures, last-minute documentation, non-submission of caste validity certificates and incomplete details were among the reasons behind the rejections. Officials said candidates whose nominations were rejecte

Ramdas Athawale calls BJP-Shiv Sena seat-sharing deal a 'betrayal of trust'

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday said that his party, RPI(A), was excluded from the seat-sharing deal between the BJP and Shiv Sena for the upcoming Mumbai civic elections, terming their move as "betrayal of trust". Ruling allies BJP and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena reached a seat-sharing agreement on Monday to contest 137 and 90 seats, respectively, in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls. Expressing his displeasure over the exclusion, Athawale, in a post on X, said, "Since the formation of the Mahayuti, we have stood by the alliance with complete sincerity and firmness. However, what has happened today regarding seat-sharing is nothing but a betrayal of trust." He claimed that a meeting for discussions was scheduled at 4 pm on Monday, but the alliance partners had failed to honour the commitment. This is not just a waste of time, but an attack on our self-respect, he wrote. "With the Mumbai civic elections around the corner, I will not toler

Maharashtra civic polls on Dec 2: What will remain open, what will close?

Maharashtra gears up for local body elections on December 2, marking a key test of political sentiment across urban municipalities and nagar panchayats

Mumbai civic body issues stop-work order to construction sites as AQI dips

Amid worsening AQI, the civic body has halted work at 53 construction sites and rolled out hundreds of AQI monitoring sensors across the city

SC rejects plea against passenger jetty project at Gateway of India

The Supreme Court said the Bombay High Court is already hearing the matter and directed it to decide the case before the monsoon ends

Studio at centre of Kunal Kamra controversy checked by Mumbai's civic body

The studio in Khar in which stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra filmed his show containing the controversial "traitor" jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was on Monday demolished by Mumbai's civic body for alleged building violations. The action by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation came a day after Habitat studio and Unicontinental hotel where it is located were ransacked late Sunday night by irate Shiv Sainiks. The temporary shed and other structures comprising the studio, which was created in the basement of the hotel, has been razed, a civic official said. "It was removed as there is no civic permission to create a studio in the basement. The BMC will check the hotel to see if everything is as per the allowed plan," the official said. Earlier in the day, Habitat Studio announced they were shutting down after Shiv Sena workers vandalised its premises. In an Instagram post, the studio said, "We are shocked, worried and extremely broken by the recent acts of ..

Mumbai civic body bans new road digging, asks citizens to report violations

BMC bans new road excavations before monsoon, urging citizens to report violations as it pushes to complete ongoing concretisation work by May 31 for smoother roads

As Modi and Sharad Pawar grow closer, Maharashtra's political cauldron bubbles

Fault lines within MVA deepen as NCP (SP) warms up to BJP-Shinde, and Thackeray charts solo path for ensuing local body polls in the state, explains RADHIKA RAMASESHAN

Fire breaks out at furniture market in Mumbai's Oshiwara, 10 shops gutted

Over 20 fire engines, water tankers and other equipment were pressed into service to contain the fire that has been categorised as Level 2

BMC introduces smart parking app to ease traffic congestion in Mumbai

This initiative, launched in the BMC Budget 2025-26, is part of the civic body's broader push toward smart transportation and urban sustainability

Mumbai sees highest Jan property registrations in 13 years: Knight Frank

About 11,773 properties were registered in January 2025, up 7 per cent Y-o-Y

CNG taxi, autorickshaw fares to rise in Mumbai by Rs 3 from February 1

The MMRTA has approved a hike of Rs 3 in the basic fare of autorickshaws and black-and-yellow taxis from February 1 in Mumbai and its surrounding metropolitan region, an official said on Friday. A Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority release said the new basic fare for autorickshaws will be Rs 26 instead of Rs 23, while it will rise to Rs 31 from the current Rs 28 for black-and-yellow taxis. The fare for blue-and-silver AC cool cabs will start at Rs 48 instead of the current Rs 40 for the first 1.5 kilometres, the release added. The decision was approved in a meeting of the MMRTA on Thursday. The new fares can be charged only after meters are recalibrated, the MMRTA release clarified.