MUMBAI: While the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance has emerged as the overall winner in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the State Election Commission (SEC) has temporarily withheld results in at least three wards in Mumbai due to technical glitches and objections raised by candidates.

The civic polls, held across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra on January 15, saw the BJP emerge as the largest party, taking the lead in areas traditionally considered Shiv Sena bastions after over two decades. However, in wards 72, 185, and 190, counting has been paused or results reserved pending verification.

Details of the Held Wards

• Ward 185: Counting was briefly halted due to technical issues with the EVM. After four rounds, BJP candidate Ravi Raja was trailing behind Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate TM Jagdish. The SEC later declared Jagdish as the winner.
• Ward 72: The result has been held due to alleged irregularities in counting. BJP’s Mamta Pankaj Yadav was leading at the time of suspension.
• Ward 190: Vaishali Rajesh Patankar of Shiv Sena (UBT) demanded a recount, citing discrepancies between the EVM data and the number of votes recorded for the candidate.

Additionally, Ward 189 has been reserved after an EVM machine reportedly failed to display voting data. The SEC stated that results will be withheld until verification is complete.

Technical Glitches and Voting Irregularities

The BMC elections were conducted amid multiple reports of bogus voting, clashes, and cash distribution, raising concerns over the integrity of the process. Officials also reported EVM glitches in several wards across Maharashtra, including:

• Nagpur, Amravati, Shirgaon
• Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Kanya Vidyalaya)
• Akola (Pink Polling Center)
• Dhule

Cases of bogus voting were reported in Sangli, Virar, Thane (Kajuwadi), Malegaon (Ward 9), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Ward 24), Pune (Ward 3 and 40), Ahilyanagar, and Pimpri Chinchwad (Golande School), according to officials.

Election Commission Response

The SEC has emphasized that technical glitches and objections are being addressed in accordance with electoral norms. Results for the affected wards will be declared only after thorough verification, ensuring that the process remains transparent and credible.

Despite these isolated issues, the overall trend points to a resounding victory for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which is set to gain control of most municipal corporations across the state.

The temporary suspension in these wards highlights ongoing challenges with EVM reliability and the need for meticulous scrutiny in high-stakes civic polls.