Overview
- Counting began at 10 am on Friday across 29 municipal corporations, including Mumbai’s BMC, using a phased method that processes two wards at a time under tight security.
- State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare estimated overall turnout at 46–50%, while Mumbai recorded about 52.9% participation in the BMC polls.
- Exit polls projected an advantage for the BJP–Shiv Sena (Shinde) alliance in Mumbai, though official results will be declared after the phased count concludes.
- The SEC permitted door-to-door outreach during the pre-poll silent period based on a 2012 order, a move criticized by opposition leaders.
- Authorities readied 140 PADU backup display units for exceptional use with BEL technicians present as probes continue into viral ink-removal claims and reports of EVM glitches and localized violence, including an EVM damaged and a Shiv Sena leader’s home attacked in Dhule.