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Campaigning Ends as Maharashtra Heads to Jan. 15 Civic Polls With BMC in Focus

Voters weigh the BJPShinde combine versus a reunited Thackeray bloc for control of India’s richest civic body.

Overview

  • Polling for 29 municipal corporations runs on January 15 from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, with counting on January 16 and a state-declared holiday to facilitate voting.
  • In Mumbai, about 1.03 crore electors will choose among roughly 1,700 candidates across 227 seats at 10,231 polling booths, including women-managed ‘Pink Sakhi’ stations with accessibility facilities.
  • Final Mumbai tallies show BJP contesting 137 seats, Shinde-led Shiv Sena 90, Shiv Sena (UBT) 163, Congress 143, NCP 94, MNS 52 and VBA 46.
  • The Supreme Court granted a two-week extension to complete local-body poll processes, while the Bombay High Court deferred until after voting a Shinde faction plea seeking rejection of UBT leader Kishori Pednekar’s nomination.
  • Rival pitches mixed identity and welfare promises, including a 50% BEST fare concession for women from the Mahayuti, a Rs 1,500 monthly allowance and property tax waiver from the UBTMNS, and a Congress focus on pollution, BEST upgrades and city finances.