High-stakes battle for Mumbai’s civic body control, Mahayuti faces off against Thackeray-MNS
BMC Election 2026 result: All eyes are on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election results, as Mumbai’s civic body, one of India’s richest, prepares to declare the outcome. Mumbaikars are closely watching to see which alliance will take control of the city’s cash-rich municipal corporation. The counting of votes for will begin today at 10 Am across 23 designated counting centres in Mumbai.
Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani stated that process will be conducted in strict accordance with the guidelines of the Election Commission of India and the Model Code of Conduct. He added that elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure security, traffic management, and maintenance of law and order in the city. The BMC, in an official statement said that a total of 23 Returning Officers have been appointed for the city’s 227 wards, with strong rooms and counting venues approved by the Public Works and Police Departments under their supervision.
BMC Election 2026 Result: High-stakes battle for Mumbai’s civic body control
Voting for the BMC elections was held on Thursday, January 15. The high-stakes civic polls, held after a gap of over six years, are being closely watched. The contest has largely been between the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) MNS combine, both vying for control of Mumbai’s civic body. Exit poll averages suggest the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance may secure around 132 seats, while the Thackeray-MNS front is projected to win about 65 seats, setting the stage for an intense counting day in Mumbai.
BMC Election 2026 Result: Shaina NC on exit poll predictions
Earlier on Thursday, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC welcomed the exit polls predictions and stated that Mahayuti will make history. Speaking to ANI, she said, “We welcome the exit polls, but tomorrow, post 12 o’clock you will realise that history is being made by the Mahayuti, based on the sheer developmental agenda of Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis. There are certain people who choose to work from home and people have rejected that. They have only chosen the people who work on the ground, and to make Mumbai a Viksit Mumbai and a Viksit Maharashtra, you need to have leaders like Eknath Shinde who have tirelessly toiled on the vision plan for a pothole-free Mumbai.”
According to Axis My India’s predictions, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is projected to win 131-151 seats; the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS-NCP (SP) alliance 58-68 seats; the Congress-VBA-RSP alliance 12-16 seats; and others 6-12 seats.