The counting of votes for elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra began on Friday morning, with early trends indicating an initial lead for the ruling BJP-led ‘Mahayuti’ alliance. As per trends broadcast by several TV channels, the coalition was ahead in at least 250 of the 2,869 seats that went to polls on January 15.
All eyes are firmly set on the crown jewel—the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)—where a tight contest appears to be unfolding between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). The outcome of this election, the first major civic poll since the dramatic political realignments in the state, is seen as a critical mid-term barometer of public sentiment.
A Fractured Political Landscape and Key Battlegrounds
These elections have drawn significant attention due to the complex web of shifting political alliances. Former allies have turned rivals and old adversaries have joined hands, making the electoral landscape particularly volatile. In a notable development, the once-estranged Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj (of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena), ended their rivalry last June and have united for these polls.
Meanwhile, the Pawar family feud has spilled onto the civic stage, with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction contesting against the party led by his uncle, Sharad Pawar, in key battlegrounds like Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Other major municipal corporations in focus include Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayandar, Ulhasnagar, and Navi Mumbai. The elections covered prominent cities like Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Nagpur, Nashik, Solapur, and Kolhapur, among others.
Polling Day: Turnout and Controversy
Voting took place on Thursday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm across 893 wards. While official final figures are awaited, State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare indicated the overall voter turnout was in the 46-50% range. Kolhapur recorded the highest turnout at 50.85% by 3:30 pm, followed by Parbhani and Thane. Mumbai’s BMC saw a modest turnout of approximately 41%.
The polling day was not without controversy. Allegations surfaced about the use of marker pens with “erasable ink,” with some voters claiming the indelible ink mark could be wiped off using hand sanitiser. Uddhav Thackeray alleged collusion between the election authorities and the ruling party, calling it an election marred by “many irregularities.”
Exit Poll Projections
Exit polls released after voting had largely predicted an advantage for the BJP-led alliance in the Mumbai civic body. One poll projected the BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde) alliance to secure between 131 to 151 seats in the 227-member BMC, with the Thackeray-led alliance bagging 58-68 seats.
As the counting progresses throughout the day, the final results will reveal the extent of the political shifts in Maharashtra’s urban heartlands and set the tone for the upcoming state assembly elections. The BMC result, in particular, will be closely scrutinized, as control over India’s richest municipal corporation carries immense political and symbolic weight.
Leave Your Comment