BMC Election Results: Counting Begins Amid Exit Polls Predicting BJP–Shiv Sena Win

Mumbai is set for a politically decisive day as counting of votes for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections begins at 10 a.m.

The counting will take place across 23 designated centres in the city under tight security and strict adherence to the guidelines laid down by the State Election Commission and the Model Code of Conduct.

The BMC elections, held after a prolonged gap of nearly nine years, are being closely watched as they will determine control over India’s richest municipal body, which operates with an annual budget of ₹74,400 crore.

Elections to the 227-member civic body were conducted on Thursday, January 15, with nearly 1,700 candidates contesting across Mumbai’s wards.

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According to official data released by the civic administration, Mumbai recorded a voter turnout of 52.94%, marking a decline from the 55.53% turnout seen in the 2017 BMC elections.

Ward-wise figures revealed stark contrasts in participation: suburban Bhandup’s Ward 114 registered the highest turnout at 64.53%, while Ward 227 in Colaba reported the lowest at just 20.88%. Of the city’s more than 1.03 crore eligible voters, just over half exercised their franchise.

Exit polls have projected a clear advantage for the BJP–Shiv Sena alliance, suggesting a potential sweep in the country’s financial capital.

According to the My Axis India exit poll, the ruling alliance is expected to secure between 131 and 151 seats, with an estimated vote share of around 42%.

In contrast, the opposition bloc comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) is projected to win 58 to 68 seats, with a vote share of about 32%.

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Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has alleged serious irregularities in the polling process, accusing the State Election Commission of acting in a biased and “anti-constitutional” manner.

He claimed that voters faced confusion due to mismatched voter details and inadequate on-ground guidance, particularly in parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Meanwhile, NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar has questioned the delay and handling of voter turnout data by the State Election Commission, adding to the chorus of opposition criticism surrounding the conduct of the civic polls.