The Maharashtra State Election Commission on Monday announced the much-awaited schedule for elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), marking a crucial phase in Maharashtra’s local governance and political landscape.
State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare, addressing a press conference in Mumbai, said that polling for all 29 municipal corporations will be conducted in a single phase on January 15, 2026, while the counting of votes will take place on January 16, 2026.
With the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for municipal corporations has come into force with immediate effect, putting restrictions on government announcements, transfers, and campaign-related activities.
Key Dates for Civic Elections
According to the official schedule released by the Election Commission:
A total of 2,869 corporators will be elected across the 29 municipal corporations.
Over Three Crore Voters Expected
More than three crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise in these civic polls, which will be conducted using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
To tackle the issue of duplicate entries in electoral rolls, the Election Commission has introduced a special mechanism. Voters whose names appear more than once will have a double-star mark next to their names and will be required to submit a written declaration along with an affidavit, specifying the polling station where they intend to vote.
Campaigning for the elections will end 24 hours before polling day, in line with election norms.
Municipal Corporations Going to Polls
The elections will cover major urban civic bodies across Maharashtra, including:
(and others, totalling 29 municipal corporations)
Political Stakes High
The civic polls, particularly the BMC elections, are being closely watched as they are seen as a test of political strength ahead of future Assembly and Lok Sabha contests. Control over municipal corporations — especially the BMC, India’s richest civic body — carries enormous political and administrative influence.
Background: Local Body Elections Underway
It may be noted that voting for the first phase of local body elections in Maharashtra took place on December 2, covering 264 municipal councils and nagar panchayats. Elections in 24 local bodies were postponed, with results expected to be declared on December 21.
As Maharashtra heads into a critical election season, the focus now shifts to candidate selection, alliances, and campaigning, with urban governance issues set to dominate public discourse in the coming weeks.
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