Mumbai: Voting for elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including the high-profile Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), concluded on Thursday evening, setting the stage for a keenly watched counting day on Friday. With Mumbai at the centre of political attention, the results are expected to have significant implications for the state’s political landscape.

According to the State Election Commission, polling across the 29 civic bodies recorded an overall voter turnout in the range of 46–50%. Voting ended at 5.30 pm, following which State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare confirmed that participation levels were broadly in line with expectations for urban local body elections.

High stakes in Mumbai

While elections were held for municipal corporations across the state, the spotlight is firmly on Mumbai, where the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is locked in an intense contest with the Shiv Sena factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray. Control of the BMC, India’s largest and richest civic body, is seen as a major political prize.

The BMC election, held after a gap of nine years due to a four-year delay, covers 227 seats, with nearly 1,700 candidates in the fray. The civic body’s annual budget exceeds ₹74,400 crore, making it not only politically influential but also financially powerful. In contrast, the remaining 28 municipal corporations in Maharashtra have multi-member wards, making their contests structurally different from Mumbai’s.

Exit polls point to Mahayuti lead

Exit poll projections released after the close of voting have suggested a clear edge for the BJP-led Mahayuti in Mumbai. The JVC exit poll projected the alliance winning around 138 seats in the BMC, while Axis My India predicted a broader range of 131–151 seats. Both surveys placed the Uddhav and Raj Thackeray alliance in second position, with the Congress trailing in third place.

While exit polls have added to the buzz, political parties are awaiting the official results, which alone will determine the final outcome.

When will counting begin?

The counting of votes is scheduled to begin on Friday, January 16. According to a notification issued by the State Election Commission, counting for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will start at 10 am.

The counting process will begin with postal ballots, followed by votes cast through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). In some centres, counting of postal ballots is expected to start earlier in the morning, around 9 am, though official confirmation on this timing is still awaited.

As counting progresses, trends and results are expected to emerge steadily through the day, particularly for the closely watched wards in Mumbai.

Where to watch BMC and civic poll results

Voters and political observers can track the results through multiple official and media platforms:

• Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC):
  The official BMC website will publish ward-wise and constituency-level results as counting progresses. Results can be accessed at the BMC’s official portal: https://portal.mcgm.gov.in/
• Other 28 municipal corporations:
  Results for the remaining civic bodies across Maharashtra will be available on the website of the State Election Commission, Maharashtra, which will provide updates as counting continues across different cities.
• Media coverage:
  News organisations, including Hindustan Times, will provide live blogs, real-time updates, and detailed ward-wise results from across all 29 municipal corporations. These platforms will also carry analysis, reactions from political leaders, and insights into emerging trends.

What to expect on result day

Given the high stakes involved, particularly in Mumbai, result day is expected to see intense political activity. Early trends from key wards could set the tone, but the final picture may take several hours to emerge, especially in closely contested areas.

The BMC outcome will be closely analysed not only for its local governance implications but also for what it signals ahead of future state and national elections. With alliances, rivalries, and political narratives at play, the Maharashtra civic poll results are set to be one of the most closely followed political events of the year.