Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Election 2026: Campaigning Ends; Fate of Candidates of 29 Bodies to be Sealed in EVMs on Jan 15
Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Election 2026: The election campaign for local body elections in Maharashtra has concluded. Public campaigning ended at 6 PM on Tuesday, and only door-to-door campaigning will be held. Voting will take place on January 15 and results will be declared on January 16 in 29 municipal corporations across the state.
There is a great deal of political activity in Maharashtra at the moment. Elections are being held in 893 wards of 29 municipal corporations in the state. This includes major cities like Mumbai (BMC), Pune, Thane, Nashik, and Nagpur. According to election data, about 3.48 crore voters will exercise their franchise this time. The administration has made elaborate arrangements at all polling stations to ensure fair elections.
BMC: A battle for political dominance
The election for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Asia's richest municipal body, is the most talked-about election this time. This contest in Mumbai's 227 wards is not only administrative but also a battle for political dominance. The BMC's budget is larger than that of many smaller states, so gaining power here is a primary goal for every political party. On January 15th, Mumbaikars will line up from morning to elect their new corporators.
Direct contest between Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi
These elections are witnessing a direct contest between the state's two main alliances, the Mahayuti (BJP, Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP) and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, Congress, and Sharad Pawar's NCP).
The ruling alliance is emphasizing development, infrastructure, and the benefits of a 'double engine' government. The opposition alliance, on the other hand, is using unemployment, local issues, and 'Marathi pride' as its weapons. Besides these, Raj Thackeray's MNS, Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, and Owaisi's AIMIM also have the potential to disrupt the outcome in several wards.
Prakash Kumar Pandey