The ‘ink’ controversy marred the municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra as polling concluded at 5.30 pm on Thursday, with counting of votes scheduled for tomorrow, January 16. Voting began at 7.30 am across 29 municipal corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and continued till 5.30 pm, with people turning out in large numbers to exercise their franchise.
The polls mark the return of civic elections after a gap of nearly nine years, delayed by the pandemic and administrative hurdles. The election is being seen as a crucial political test following major realignments in Maharashtra’s politics since 2022.
Exit polls have predicted that the BJP may emerge as the single largest party. According to the Axis My India post-poll projections, the BJP may secure 28 per cent vote share, followed by Shiv Sena (UBT)’s 24 per cent, and Shiv Sena (Shinde)’s 14 per cent. The Congress-led alliance may reduce to just 13 per cent vote share. In terms of seats, the BJP-led coalition may secure 131-151 seats.
Maharashtra civic polls: What we know so far
- Exit polls have predicted a clean sweep for the BJP-Shiv Sena in the BMC. According to the Axis My India post-poll projections, the BJP is set to emerge as the single largest party with 28 per cent votes, followed by Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena with 14 per cent, and Shiv Sena (UBT)’s 24%. Vote share projections:
BJP: 28%
SS (Shinde): 14%
UBT: 24%
MNS: 7%
NCP(SP): 1%
Congress-VBA-RSP- 13%
Others- 13% - Voting began at 7.30 am across 29 municipal corporations and will continue till 5.30 pm. Counting of votes is scheduled for January 16.
- A total of 2,869 seats across 893 wards are being contested. Around 3.48 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 15,908 candidates.
- The BMC election is being held after a nine-year gap. In Mumbai alone, 1,700 candidates are contesting 227 seats in India’s richest civic body, which has an annual budget exceeding Rs 74,400 crore.
- This is the first BMC election since the Shiv Sena split in 2022. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is facing the reunited Thackeray camp of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray in a high-stakes contest.
- A voter turnout of 41.13% has been recorded till 3.30 pm in all 29 municipal seats, as per the State Election Commission.
- The polls were marred by a controversy over the use of low-quality indelible ink with MNS Chief Raj Thackeray accusing the BJP-led Mahayuti government of indulging in malpractices to win the polls.
- The State Election Commission took note of concerns over the use of low-quality ink after a video showing the ink being easily removed surfaced online. The SEC ordered an inquiry and asserted that adequate precautionary measures were in place to prevent electoral malpractices even if the ink was removed.
- Prominent figures, including Akshay Kumar, Piyush Goyal, and Mohan Bhagwat, were seen voting early, appealing for higher public participation.
- Over 39,000 polling stations have been set up across the State, with more than 3,000 marked as sensitive. Mumbai alone has over 25,000 police personnel deployed.
- Isolated complaints were raised about voting machines and voter lists in cities like Pune and Mumbai. Officials said issues were addressed promptly, with voting largely proceeding smoothly.
- The civic polls are being seen as a litmus test for political forces ahead of future State and national elections. The outcome is expected to reshape urban governance and political equations in Maharashtra.