Maharashtra Municipal Election 2026: After quite a while, elections for 29 municipal bodies are taking place today in Maharashtra. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Mumbai is at the heart of this political showdown. The fight for control of the nation’s wealthiest municipal body is anticipated to be a tight race between the BJP-led Mahayuti and the alliance of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray.
Voting for 2,869 seats across 893 wards will involve 34.8 million voters determining the political fate of 15,931 candidates. In the BMC alone, 1,700 candidates are vying for 227 seats, and all parties are keenly focused on this institution, which has an annual budget of Rs 74,000 crore. This marks the first BMC election following the Shiv Sena split, adding to its political importance. The campaign is filled with accusations, splits in alliances, and populist promises.
Regarding allegations that the ink on voters’ fingers was easily erased at polling stations, Uddhav Thackeray said, “I appeal to the people of Maharashtra to please exercise their right to vote. Since morning, I’ve been receiving calls from across Maharashtra about numerous problems with the voting process. The ink on fingers is also easily erased after voting. Therefore, I believe the State Election Commission should be held accountable. If such errors are occurring in the process, what have they been doing for years? They’re conducting BMC elections after nine years. I believe they should make public the daily activities in their office, or representatives of political parties should be posted there.”
Speaking about the Maharashtra local body elections, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “This is a cornerstone of our democracy, its foundation, so voting is absolutely essential. I appeal to everyone to cast their vote, as voting is not only your right but also your duty. If we want good governance, we must vote. I too have cast my vote.” He further said, “The Congress brutally attacked our party candidate from Nagpur, Bhushan Shingane, breaking his arm and injuring his leg and head… Such acts amount to an attack on democracy when we lose the election, but the public will respond to those who insulted me as well as them… The opposition must now adopt a new strategy. The opposition’s search for new excuses for its upcoming defeat only confirms our victory.”
