Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Election Results: BJP-led Mahayuti registers big win | As it happened

• Bahujan Vikas Aghadi: 71
• BJP: 43
• Congress: 1

• BJP: 85
• Congress: 19
• NCP: 2
• Shiv Sena: 25
• MNS: 5
• Shiv Sena (UBT): 60
• NCP (SP): 1
• Others: 7

• BJP: 1372
• BSP: 6
• Congress: 315
• NCP: 158
• Shiv Sena: 394
• MNS: 12
• Shiv Sena (UBT): 149
• NCP (SP): 36

Speaking at a press conference in Thane, Eknath Shinde thanked the voters of the state and said that people want development. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Over the past three-and-a-half years, our alliance government has worked for the development of the city of Mumbai. Whenever the Prime Minister visits Mumbai, he has said that Mumbai should become an international city. We will make Mumbai pothole-free and corruption-free. We will upgrade Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhana. We will speed up the metro work," he said.

Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena supremo, is addressing a press conference in Thane following Mahayuti's big win in the 2026 municipal corporation elections.

• BJP:  84
• Shiv Sena (UBT):  63
• Shiv Sena: 26
• Congress: 23
• AIMIM:  8
• MNS: 6
• SP: 2 
• NCP (SP): 1
• NCP: 2

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Desai says, "Celebration should definitely take place where people have given their mandate, but before the full mandate is received. However, when the election process is still on, votes are still being counted, and you are already declaring results on television channels. By 3:30 or 4:00 in the afternoon, you are already celebrating. That means you already know how many seats are to be given to which political parties, and you are declaring it as your victory in advance. When you actually receive the people’s mandate, then you should certainly celebrate. If the people, in a democracy, have given their support to you, then by all means take out victory processions. All these things also create doubt and suspicion in the minds of the people. Why is all this happening in this manner?"

The BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde) Mahayuti alliance has swept the elections in most of the 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra. The icing on the cake is the historic victory in India’s richest civic body, BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). BJP and its ally wrested control of BMC from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT). Click here to read more.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed NDA's victory in Maharashtra municipal corporation elections and said that it indicates the alliance's bond with the people of the state. In an X post, he said this is a "vote to add momentum to progress and celebrate the glorious culture the state is associated with".

"I am very proud of every NDA Karyakarta who worked tirelessly among people across Maharashtra. They talked about our alliance’s track record, highlighted our vision for the coming times and also effectively countered the lies of the Opposition. My best wishes to them," he said.

BJP: 87
Shiv Sena: 4
Congress: 2
NCP: 1
VBA: 8

Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP chief Ajit Pawar has welcomed the verdict of the municipal corporation elections in the state, saying the "will of people is supreme". In an X post, he also congratulated the winning candidates, saying the Mahayuti will continue to work with a focus on development. 

"In this election for local self-governing institutions, wherever the expected success was not achieved, we firmly assure that we will continue to work with greater responsibility, honesty, and double the vigor to regain the trust of the people," he posted. 

A total of 65 candidates from ten municipal corporations in Maharashtra were declared elected unopposed ahead of elections held on January 15, the State Election Commission (SEC) said on Friday. The BJP topped the list of unopposed candidates with 43, followed by ally Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena (18 candidates), the Nationalist Congress Party (2), an Independent, and a candidate of the Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra, reports PTI.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala says, "The spectacular victory that the BJP-led Mahayuti has got not only in BMC but also across the Mahrashtra, including Pune, Nagpur, Nashik and others, shows that people of Maharashtra, and Marathi people, have blessed PM Modi and his leadership. Devendra Fadnavis' administration and the Mahayuti government have been delivering results non-stop."

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya says, "Mumbaikar wanted to do a lot for years, but this mafia, be it Raj Thackeray or Uddhav Thackeray, used to threaten and scare them. Today, people of Mumbai taught them a lesson. He betrayed his own father. Who was it who had saved the dignity of Uddhav Thackeray in the end? Muslims and Bangladeshis. He had to take refuge in Allah in the end."

• BJP: 103 
• Shiv Sena: 1
• Congress: 33
• Shiv Sena (UBT): 2
• NCP: 1
• AIMIM: 7 
• IUML: 4

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has thanked the people of the state, while likening Hindutva with development. In his address, he said BJP+ has won in 25 out of 29 municipal corporations, adding that people believe in politics of development by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• BJP: 58
• Shiv Sena: 12
• Shiv Sena (UBT): 6
• AIMIM: 33
• Congress: 1
• NCP (SP): 1
• VBA: 4

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is addressing BJP workers at party headquarters in Mumbai after the party swept the BMC elections 2026.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has arrived at BJP headquarters in Mumbai after party swept the BMC elections 2026.

• BJP: 25
• Shiv Sena: 15
• NCP: 4
• Congress: 35
• Shiv Sena (UBT): 1
• Jansuraaj Shakti Party: 1

• Shiv Sena (UBT): 25
• BJP: 12
• Congress: 12
• NCP: 11
• Others: 5

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has congratulated Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde as the BJP-Shiv Sena are set to win in 29 municipal corporations of Maharashtra. "I am confident that Maharashtra's journey towards progress will gain even more strength under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis," he posted on X.

• BJP: 41
• Shiv Sena: 12
• Congress: 9
• AIMIM: 2
• Others: 1

• BJP: 39
• Congress: 18
• NCP: 16
• NCP (SP): 3
• Shiv Sena: 2 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulated key Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) figures over phone calls, praising their leadership in securing strong wins across municipal elections including BMC, Nagpur, Pune and others. Click here to read more.

Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora has said that the people of Mumbai have rejected the much-talked reunion of the Thackeray brothers, adding that there are only two brothers - Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde - in the politics of the India's financial capital.

"As a Mumbaikar, I am grateful to the people of Mumbai for voting for change, accountability, and development, and not for the drama perpetuated by two brothers. Today, it's clear that there are only two brothers in Mumbai's politics: Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde. Their last name is development," he said.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal has hit out at the MVA and said that the results of the Maharashtra municipal corporation elections show people don't trust him.

"We have received the blessings of the people. Mahayuti is winning on 24 civic bodies. The MVA, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP), has won just 7 or 8 per cent wards. This shows that people don't trust him," he said.

• BJP: 13
• Shiv Sena: 1 
• NCP: 2
• Congress: 14, 
• Shiv Sena (UBT): 5 
• NCP (SP): 1 
• Others: 3

Congress has won the Latur Municipal Corporation polls with 43 seats out of total 70. The BJP is a distant second with 22 seats.

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Friday thanked the voters in Mumbai, as the Mahayuti is set to register a huge victory in the BMC elections 2026.

"This mandate has been given for the development of Mumbai. We have won the trust of Mumbai's people by dedicating to them important projects like the Metro Rail Network, Coastal Road, and Trans Harbour Link, and this mandate shows the desire of Mumbai's people for the city's development," he said.

The BJP-led Mahayuti is leading in BMC, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Panvel, Kalyan Dombivli, Mira Bhayandar, Ulhasnagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Kolhapur, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Solapur, Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar), Jalgaon, Dhule, Ichalkaranji, Nanded-Waghala, Jalna and Akola municipal corporations.

BMC Polls 2026: Shiv Sena (UBT) workers celebrate victory of Hemangi Harish Varlekar from Ward no. 193. 

The results for all 75 wards in Jalgaon municipal corporation have been declared.

• BJP: 46
• Shiv Sena: 22
• Shiv Sena (UBT): 5
• NCP: 1
• Others: 1 

The results for all 68 seats in Ahmednagar municipal corporation have been declared.

• BJP: 25
• NCP: 27
• Shiv Sena: 10
• Shiv Sena (UBT): 1
• Congress: 2
• AIMIM: 2
• BSP: 1

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will arrive in Nagpur at around 7 pm where he will meet Union Minister Nitin Gadkari following Mahayuti's big win in municipal corporation elections.

BJP: 46

Shiv Sena (Shinde): 28

Shiv Sena (UBT): 2

MNS: 2

NCP: 1

BJP Mayor will be elected in:
Mumbai BMC
Mira Bhayandar
Kolhapur
Solapur
Sangli
Ichalkaranji
Jalna
Nanded
Sambhajinagar
Kalyan Dombivli
Pune
Pimpri Chinchwad
Nagpur
Akola
Nashik
Dhule
Jalgaon
Navi Mumbai
Panvel
Ulhasnagar

Congress Mayor will be elected in:
Latur
Parbhani

Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) Mayor:
Vasai Virar

NCP Ajit:
Ahilya Nagar

Shinde Shiv Sena:
Thane
Malegaon

Amravati | Chandrapur | Congress and BJP in a close contest in the MahaYuti alliance

Congress suffers a setback:
Lost power in Bhiwandi and Jalna
Retained its stronghold in Parbhani
BJP lost Latur, which was gained by Congress

AIMIM won four seats in Mumbai
4 seats in Malegaon
Leading in 17 seats in Sambhajinagar
AIMIM harmed Congress UBT and Samajwadi Party in Sambhajinagar, Mumbai, and Malegaon

Total Seats: 151
BJP: 101
Shiv Sena: 3
Nationalist Congress Party: 0
Thackeray Group: 0
Congress: 30
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena: 0
Sharad Pawar NCP: 0
Others: 8

BJP supporters and workers celebrate in Navi Mumbai as the party leads.

"Mid trends have started coming in now. Mid trends show that these will go ahead speedily. There is no chance of going backwards. It shouldn't come as a surprise if we cross 125 in Pune...The same is the situation in Mumbai...It is one-sided in Pimpri, the same goes for Kolhapur and Sangli...Across Maharashtra, mahauyti will have a good result. Out of 29, there will be Mahayuti in at least 28; most of these will be from the BJP," says Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil.

BJP - 29
Shiv Sena (UBT) - 19
Shiv Sena- 10 
Congress - 7
MNS - 2 
AIMIM- 4 
Samajwadi Party - 1 
NCP- 1 
NoTA- 1

AIMIM wins first seat in BMC Mumbai. Mehzabin Khan wins ward number 134. Trends suggest Saffron surge across the state, Mahayuti poised for big win in BMC.

Total Seats: 151

BJP: 85
Shiv Sena: 3
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP): 00
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray): 00
Congress: 22
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS): 00
NCP (Sharad Pawar): 00
Others: 00

On BMC Elections 2026, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale says, "Today, vote counting is underway for the municipal elections across Maharashtra. As far as Mumbai is concerned, Uddhav Thackeray was in power for 25-30 years. He was in power because he was in an alliance with the BJP. Today, the BJP is the number one party in the country. The RPI(A) was with Uddhav Thackeray since 2012, which is why he remained in power, but today neither the BJP nor the RPI(A) is with him. Uddhav Thackeray has now formed an alliance with Raj Thackeray, which seems to be giving him some advantage in certain Marathi-speaking areas, but most of the seats are going to the Mahayuti alliance. The Mayor of Mumbai will be from the Mahayuti alliance, and will be a Marathi speaker..."

Nishikant Shinde of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) won from ward number 194 in Mumbai. Samadhan Sarvankar of the Shiv Sena lost.

Total seats: 66
Congress: 12
BJP: 7
Shiv Sena Shinde: 2
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray): 7
Nationalist Congress Party Ajit Pawar: 1
Nationalist Congress Party Sharad Pawar: 1
Janvikas Sena: 1
Independent: 1
MIM: 1

BJP: 17
Shiv Sena UBT: 9
Shiv Sena: 5
Congress: 3
AIMIM: 2
SP: 1
NCP SP: 1
MNS: 1

In Maharashtra, the BJP is leading in 25 out of the total 29 municipal corporations. In Sangli, Kolhapur, Vasai-Virar, and Malegaon, the BJP does not have a lead and is facing tough competition from the Congress. In Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, even with the NCP joining forces, the BJP is still ahead.

BJP: 17

Shiv Sena UBT: 9
Shiv Sena: 5
Congress: 3
AIMIM: 2
SP: 1
NCP SP: 1

Three BJP candidates win from Ward No. 20 of the Shankar Maharaj Math-Bibwewadi area

BJP workers celebrate as Navnath Ban from BJP wins at ward number 135, Mankhurd area, as per early trends

Four candidates from Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde's faction win.

Meenal Sankhe: 15,979 votes

Namrata Bhosle: 17,224 votes

Vikas Repale: 17,235 votes

Rajendra Phatak: 17,019 votes

Total Seats: 151

BJP: 65
Shiv Sena: 1
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP): 0
Thackeray Group: 0
Congress: 22
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS): 0
Sharad Pawar NCP: 0
Others: 0

Total: 131 seats

BJP - 10

Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) - 14

NCP (Ajit Pawar) - 3

MNS - 1

Congress - 1

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) - 3

NCP (Sharad Pawar) - 5

First official win of BMC elections: Asha Deepak Kale of congress wins ward number 183.

BVA - 84
BJP – 25
SHIV SENA - 00
NCP - 00
CONGRESS - 01
SHIV SENA UBT - 05
NCP SP – 00
OTHERS - 00

Total Seats - 151
BJP - 28
Shiv Sena - 0
Nationalist Congress Party - 0
Thackeray Group - 0
Congress - 9
MNS - 0
Sharad Pawar NCP - 0
Others - 0

BJP -391

Shiv Sena (UBT) – 91

NCP (Ajit Pawar) - 52

On BMC Elections Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut says, "The voting pattern that has been going on in a city like Mumbai is a serious matter. Names of thousands of people, who have even voted in the Assembly elections, are missing in areas where Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS or Congress... The EVM machine does not work properly... The Election Commission is not ready to listen to us. Yesterday, a meeting was held between the senior BJP leaders and the Election Commission staff, why? The Code of Conduct is still in place..."

He also says, "The exit polls arrived even before the voting percentage... The BJP started celebrating its victory... We have assured the people not to be afraid..."

BJP- 38

Shinde shivsena- 15

UBT- 27

Mns- 5

Cong- 10

Other 7

Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Election Results

BJP - 8

Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) - 6

Thane Municipal Corporation Election Results

BJP - 6
Shiv Sena - 9

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Election Results

BJP - 2
Shiv Sena - 2

Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation Election Results

BJP - 15
Shiv Sena - 7

Total seats: 165
BJP: 32
NCP / SP & AP: 14
Shiv Sena: 02
Shiv Sena UBT: 0

BJP leading in 32 seats in Pune. Apart from the BMC, other civic bodies in the contest include Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Ulhasnagar, Thane, Chandrapur, Parbhani, Mira-Bhayandar, Nanded-Waghala and Panvel, among others.

BJP leading in 32 seats in Pune. Apart from the BMC, other civic bodies in the contest include Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Ulhasnagar, Thane, Chandrapur, Parbhani, Mira-Bhayandar, Nanded-Waghala and Panvel, among others.

Mahayuti- 41

Thakrey- 23

Cong- 5

Other- 6

BJP: 13
Shiv Sena (Shinde): 7

Shiv Sena (UBT): 10
MNS: 3

Congress: 5

NCP (Ajit Pawar): 1

Others: 6

The counting of votes for Maharashtra's municipal corporation elections started at 10 am. BJP is ahead in two seats in Pune, BJP is ahead in six seats in Bhiwandi.

NCP leader Zeeshan Siddiqui says, "We are confident, we have performed well. The feedback we have been receiving from our team on the ground is also good. NCP workers worked hard and now we are awaiting results. I believe results will be good and in favour. Our base will become strong in Mumbai and NCP's flag will fly high at the BMC."

"Mayor will be ours, Congress workers have worked hard for BMC polls," says Congress leader Sachin Sawant on BMC results.

Fresh visuals emerged from outside the counting station at Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) D Ward Regional Office for Maharashtra local body polls. Vote counting will begin at 10 am across 29 municipal corporations. Pimpri-Chinchwad DCP Vishal Gaikwad says, "The counting process is about to begin sometime in the D ward here. We have deployed appropriate arrangements... There is 1 riot-control police platoon, 7-8 officers and 100 policemen..."

Mumbai on Friday recorded 52.94% polling as per the BMC. The Maharashtra State Election Commission has yet not released the official poll percentage of polling held in 29 Municipal Corporations on Thursday.

On the BMC results, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey says, “Today is January 16, a day we have all been eagerly waiting for. We have worked sincerely for Mumbai’s development, for the youth, and for the safety of women. We believe our efforts will bear fruit. We have done our duty; now we await the people’s blessings. We hope to form the government, have a Marathi Mayor, and receive a thumbs up from Mumbai’s citizens by the afternoon.”

The polling percentage in Mumbai was 55.53 in 2017, while the average voting figure in 26 corporations - elections were held for the first time in Jalna and Ichalkaranji municipal corporations – was 56.35 per cent.

On Maharashtra civic body elections, AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan says, "This is an exit poll, not an accurate poll, and whatever is being shown, this isn't the first time it's happened. It's happened many times before that something was shown in the poll, and in the end, it turned out to be something else. Who won, who lost, everything will be known... We are confident that the people have blessed us with their votes... We will achieve great success..."

This time, the Nashik municipal corporation recorded a voter turnout of 56.67% in the Maharashtra civic body elections held on Thursday. This was about five percentage points lower than the 61.60% turnout seen in the 2017 civic polls.

On the BMC results to be announced today, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC says, “We are confident that the Mahayuti will lead the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. From the beginning, our focus has been on a development-driven agenda - housing, metro projects, transport, environment, healthcare, education and sewage treatment plants. The hard work of CM Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde on the ground is now reflecting in the trends. The people’s mandate is always supreme, and we respect it.”

Fresh visuals emerged from outside the counting station for wards number 25, 27, 28 at DES Primary School in Pune for Maharashtra local body polls. Vote counting will begin at 10 am across 29 municipal corporations.

Early morning visuals have come from outside the counting station at BMC School in Sion Koliwada for BMC Elections. Vote counting will begin at 10 am across 23 counting centres.

In the municipal corporation elections held in Maharashtra on January 15, 2026, voter turnout averaged between 52 and 61 percent across various cities. Several major cities witnessed a decline in voter turnout compared to previous elections, raising concerns among political parties.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)

Estimated voter turnout: 53 to 55 percent
Counting of votes at 23 centers from 10 AM today

Nashik Municipal Corporation

Total voter turnout: 56.67%
Voter turnout in the last election (2017) was 61.60%
A drop of about 5% this time
Everyone is watching to see who will be affected by the reduced voter turnout

Solapur Municipal Corporation

Total voter turnout: 53.30%
Voting time: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Voting concluded for 102 seats

Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC)

Total voter turnout: 52.11%
Total wards: 122
Total polling stations: 1,548
Total voters: 14,25,086
Male: 7,45,664
Female: 6,78,870

Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Municipal Corporation

Total voter turnout: 61.30%
Voter turnout in 2018: 62.17%
A slight decrease this time
Only 41.79% voting by 3:30 PM
Voter turnout increased in the evening

Pune Municipal Corporation

Total voter turnout: 52.42%
Total seats: 163
Voters who cast their vote: 18,62,408
Voter turnout in 2017: 55.56%
A decrease of approximately 3.5%
Discussion is intensifying on who will be harmed by the low voter turnout

Thane Municipal Corporation

Total voter turnout: 55.59%
Total voters who cast their vote: 9,17,123
Total voters: 16,49,869
Total polling stations: 2,013
Total wards: 33
Ward Committee-wise voting percentage:
Majivada (1,2,3,8): 54.75%
Vartaknagar (4,5,7): 54.86%
Lokmanya Savarkar Nagar (6,13,14,15): 58.09%
Wagle (16,17,18): 55.53%
Naupada-Kopri (19–22): 59.79%
Uthalsar (10–12): 60.60%
Kalwa (9,23–25): 54.29%
Mumbra (30,32): 49.15%
Diva (27,28): 57.37%

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation

Total voter turnout: 59.82%
In the last election: 63%
Decrease in voter turnout this time

Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation

Total voter turnout: 57.71%
Sharp increase in voting in the evening
Monitoring through webcasting at all polling stations

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation

Total voter turnout: 57.15%
Voting time: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM

Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation

Total voter turnout: 57.12%

With inputs from Sachin Chaudhary

A ballot unit was changed in Maharashtra’s Parbhani city due to a link error on Thursday amid the ongoing civic polls, an official said. The ballot unit at booth number 5 in ward 10 showed a link error around 8.30 am. It was immediately changed by the officials concerned, he said. A total of 411 candidates were in the fray for 65 seats in the Parbhani Municipal Corporation.

The municipal corporations that went to polls on January 15 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.

For BMC elections, the counting of votes will begin at 10 am at 23 designated counting centres spread across Mumbai amid tight security. Each vote counting centre will function under the supervision of an appointed Election Returning Officer and the BMC has reiterated that all counting venues will remain under round-the-clock surveillance, with CCTV coverage and police presence to maintain law and order.

Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad alleged large-scale misuse of money and power by the ruling BJP-led alliance in the BMC elections, but expressed confidence that her party would emerge victorious.

Dhule in North Maharashtra witnessed civic poll violence, including two groups scuffling and damaging an EVM and a mob attacking the residence of a Shiv Sena leader, police said. The residence of Shiv Sena's Dhule district chief Manoj More at Krushi Colony in Deopur was attacked by 20 persons, an official said. The mob barged into More's house, pelted stones and damaged vehicles, allegedly over a dispute between him and BJP's Vilas Shinde on withdrawing candidature, the official added.

A host of Bollywood personalities, including Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan, stepped out of their homes and voted in the Mumbai civic body polls with the hope that the "right" candidates will win and tackle crucial issues, from infrastructure challenges to pollution. Actors Hema Malini, Saira Banu, Shabana Azmi, John Abraham, Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Janhvi Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Kartik Aaryan, Paresh Rawal and screenwriter Salim Khan, also exercised their franchise.

Most of the exit polls predicted a strong lead for the BJP–Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena alliance in the 227-member civic body. The Axis My India survey projected that the alliance would win between 131 and 151 wards, while the Uddhav Thackeray–Raj Thackeray combination is expected to secure 58 to 68 wards and the Congress 12 to 16. On the other hand, the Janmat poll projected BJP–Shiv Sena alliance at 138 seats, with the Shiv Sena (UBT)–MNS at 59 and the Congress–VBA at 23.

There was a report of removal of EVM machines in Ward No. 13 in Thane. Independent candidates and other candidates questioned the officials for taking one machine out of the vehicle without informing the candidate and the police. As soon as a complaint was made to the police, the police have brought the relevant machines back.

Raj Thackeray claimed that the State Election Commission is using a new pen, due to which the markings on the voter's fingers disappeared. After casting his vote in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “I have also been marked with a marker, is it erasing? Creating a ruckus on everything and raising questions is wrong.” Ink applied to fingers with marker pens after casting vote in the municipal corporation elections can be removed easily and lead to bogus voting, Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat said.
 

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray claimed irregularities in the civic polls, terming it an attempt to murder democracy, and urged voters to dislodge the “brutal, fraud, corrupt and dictatorial regime” of the BJP. Uddhav and his cousin Raj Thackeray, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, targeted the State Election Commission over a range of issues, besides claiming that the ink used on voters' fingers could easily be erased.
 

The BMC elections faced significant delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Supreme Court rulings on OBC reservations, and issues related to ward delimitation. The last BMC polls were held in 2017. The term of the corporators ended on 7 March 2022, and subsequent elections could not be held in time, resulting in the civic body being placed under an administrator.
 

Polling for 2,869 seats across 893 wards in the 29 civic bodies began at 7.30 am and concluded at 5.30 pm. A total of 3.48 crore voters were eligible to decide the fate of 15,931 candidates. Except for Mumbai, the 28 other urban bodies have multi-member wards. Vote count will begin at 10 am on January 16.
 

In the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), whose annual budget is over Rs 74, 400 crore, there were 1,700 candidates in the arena for 227 seats in the elections held after nine years, after a four-year delay. More than 25,000 police personnel were deployed across Mumbai to oversee elections.
 

In the 2017 elections, the polling percentage in Mumbai was 55.53%, while the average voting figure in 26 corporations - elections were held for the first time in Jalna and Ichalkaranji municipal corporations – was 56.35 per cent. The spotlight was on Mumbai on Thursday, where the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance was locked in an intense battle with the reunited Thackeray cousins for control of India's largest and richest civic body.

Around 50 per cent polling was recorded in Mumbai and 28 other municipal corporations in Maharashtra on Thursday amid a major controversy over claims that the ink applied on voters' fingers could be easily removed. State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said the turnout in the 29 civic bodies was in the 46-50 per cent range.