Overview
- Polling for 227 wards runs 7:30 am to 5:30 pm on January 15 for more than 1.03 crore voters, with counting on January 16.
- Election machinery is in place with about 4,500 volunteers, active surveillance teams, two days of postal voting for duty staff, and disciplinary action initiated against 4,521 employees who skipped mandated duties.
- The BMC’s SVEEP drive includes street performances and post-vote dining discounts through an AHAR tie-up to boost turnout.
- The alliance map features a reunited Sena (UBT)–MNS versus the BJP–Shinde Sena Mahayuti, which claims organisational advantages including unopposed wins; the final rallies saw Devendra Fadnavis target the Thackerays as Mahayuti leaders forecast a Mumbai mayor.
- The Shinde-led Sena has challenged UBT leader Kishori Pednekar’s nomination in the Bombay High Court, with the bench deferring the matter until after polling, while surveys offer mixed signals though a C-Voter poll shows many expect a Mahayuti win and Muslim-heavy wards remain pivotal.