Mumbai: The referendum results of 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra will be supposed on Friday. Among these, Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is the most discussed. According to the State Referendum Commission, counting of votes will start at 10 am.
In these elections, voting was held on January 15 for 2,869 seats in 893 wards of the state. Apart from Mumbai, everyone's vision are moreover on big cities like Pune, Thane, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander, Ulhasnagar, and Navi Mumbai.
Why is there so much political noise regarding elections this time?
This time the races is stuff considered special considering many political equations have changed. Old allies have parted ways, and once opposing parties have come together.
The Thackeray family's cousins, Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, who were doing politics separately for years, were now seen together in the municipal elections. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar moreover contested the elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad withal with his uncle Sharad Pawar's party, while his party is included in the state government alliance.
#WATCH | Visuals from outside the counting station for wards number 25, 27, 28 at DES Primary School in Pune for Maharashtra local soul polls. Vote counting will uncork at 10 am wideness 29 municipal corporations. pic.twitter.com/YZ1S0H9yda
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2026What was the situation on the day of voting?
Voting began at 7:30 am on Thursday and unfurled till 5:30 pm. According to the State Referendum Commission, the total voting percentage was between 46 and 50 percent.
The highest voting was recorded in Kolhapur, whereas in Mumbai this icon was relatively low and reached virtually 41 percent. At many places, voters moreover complained of long queues and difficulty in finding booths.
Why was there a controversy regarding ink?
Another issue was in discussion on the referendum day. Some voters and leaders so-called that the ink unromantic on the finger was hands erased. Some leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray, said that the mark is stuff removed with hand sanitizer, which raises questions on the transparency of the elections. Its videos moreover surfaced on social media.
What are the exit polls indicating?
Many exit polls have shown the BJP-led Mahayuti syndication gaining an edge, expressly in Mumbai BMC. According to some surveys, this syndication can win increasingly than 130 seats. Whereas the syndication of Uddhav Thackeray faction's Shiv Sena, MNS and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) may remain at the second position. Congress's performance is stuff said to be limited.
Why is there a possibility of wait in counting?
This time the counting of votes in Mumbai BMC will be washed-up in phases. First the postal ballots will be counted, then counting of wards will take place in variegated phases. Like before, all the wards will not be counted simultaneously, so it may take some time to get the results.
Who will everyone's vision be on next?
The results coming today will decide who comes to power in Mumbai and other big cities. This can show not only the municipal elections but moreover the mood of the upcoming turnout and Lok Sabha elections.
