Overview
- Voting is on January 15 from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm with counting on January 16, as around 1,700 candidates contest 227 wards and roughly 1.03 crore voters are eligible.
- The State Election Commission blocked the early January instalment of the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin scheme under the model code of conduct after complaints about a pre-poll release.
- The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition challenging the Bombay High Court’s dismissal of claims over the ‘mass rejection’ of BMC nomination forms.
- Campaigning closed with sharp exchanges as Devendra Fadnavis showcased old clips of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray while Raj Thackeray alleged cash-for-votes offers up to ₹5,000 per ballot, and analysts noted Mahayuti’s reported edge from unopposed seats.
- Election officials deployed about 4,500 volunteers, ordered swift removal of campaign material, processed 11,627 postal ballots for duty staff, and moved to penalize 4,521 personnel who skipped mandated training and duties.