Voting concluded on January 15, 2026, across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), after polls ran from morning until 5:30 pm. State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare reported an overall turnout of 46–50%, with major cities recording varied participation—Thane at 44%, Navi Mumbai at 45%, and Bhiwandi–Nizampur at 38.21%.

Exit polls released shortly after voting indicate a dominant performance by the BJP‑led Mahayuti alliance, with projections showing it emerging as the largest political force in the BMC elections. The Axis My India and JVC exit polls predicted a massive win for BJP+, while the alliance of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray’s factions is placed a distant second. Congress and other opposition parties trailed further behind.

The elections were tightly contested in Mumbai, where the BMC, India’s wealthiest civic body with an annual budget exceeding ₹74,400 crore, had 1,700 candidates vying for 227 seats. The political spotlight was on the Thackeray cousins’ alliance, which reunited after 20 years to reclaim political influence, challenging the Mahayuti coalition.

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Polling day saw active participation from prominent personalities. Sachin Tendulkar, Salman Khan, Amir Khan, Raj Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, Devendra Fadnavis, and Nitin Gadkari cast their votes, drawing media attention. Certain procedural concerns, like reports of “ink removal” from fingers, prompted election authorities to launch probes and reassure voters about election integrity.

Across other municipal corporations in Pune, Thane, Nagpur, Nashik, and Pimpri‑Chinchwad, key issues influencing voter choice included urban infrastructure, public services, local governance efficiency, and leadership credibility. Security deployments were tight, ensuring smooth voting operations across all constituencies.

Vote counting is scheduled for January 16, 2026, which will finalize the composition of Maharashtra’s urban local bodies. Early exit poll projections suggest the results could significantly boost the BJP‑led coalition’s political momentum ahead of upcoming state and national elections, while the Uddhav‑Raj alliance will need to reassess its urban strategy.

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