Maharashtra Civic Elections 2026: Voting Concludes With Epic Thackeray vs BJP-Shiv Sena Clash
Voting wraps up in Maharashtra civic polls across 29 corporations; focus on BMC, where the Thackeray brothers challenge the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance.
Voting for the Maharashtra Civic Body Polls 2026 was held across the state on Thursday, covering 29 municipal corporations and marking a significant democratic exercise after prolonged delays in local governance. A total of 3.48 crore eligible voters participated in deciding the political future of 15,931 candidates contesting these crucial urban elections.
The spotlight of the polls is firmly on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), India’s richest civic body with an annual budget exceeding ₹74,400 crore. Elections to the BMC are being held after a four-year delay, making the contest particularly significant. As many as 1,700 candidates are in the fray for 227 seats, reflecting the high political stakes attached to the country’s most influential municipal corporation.
Mumbai’s electoral battle has drawn intense attention due to the high-profile political contest shaping the narrative. The elections mark a rare face-off involving the reunited Thackeray brothers, who have come together after nearly two decades in an effort to reclaim their political legacy in the city. Their alliance is being tested against the BJP–Shiv Sena alliance, making the BMC election a prestige battle for all sides involved.
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Across Maharashtra, polling was largely peaceful, with voters turning out in significant numbers to participate in the civic process. Municipal corporations play a critical role in urban administration, including infrastructure development, public health, transport, and civic services, adding weight to the outcome of these elections.
Political observers view the civic polls as a barometer of public sentiment ahead of future state and national elections. The results are expected to influence party strategies, leadership equations, and alliance dynamics in Maharashtra’s complex political landscape.
The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on Friday, January 16. With major political reputations and control over key urban bodies at stake, the results are expected to have far-reaching implications beyond municipal governance in the state.
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