Counting Starts for 29 Municipal Corporations
The Maharashtra State Election Commission will declare the Maharashtra elections result 2026 on Friday as vote counting begins at 10 am. Officials will count votes for 2,869 seats across 893 wards, including those of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Voters cast their ballots on January 15. Due to the scale of counting, officials expect the BMC outcome to take longer than other civic bodies. As counting begins, political parties have set up war rooms across the state.
Major Cities and High Political Stakes
Several urban centres dominate the spotlight today. These include Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayandar, Navi Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, Nagpur, Nashik and Kolhapur. This election has attracted intense interest because political alliances have shifted. Notably, Raj and Uddhav Thackeray reunited after years of rivalry to fight the civic polls together. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has taken on Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, sharpening the contest.
Turnout Trends and Poll-Day Controversy
Polling ran from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm on Thursday. While officials await final turnout data, State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said voter participation ranged between 46 and 50 percent. Kolhapur led the turnout chart at 50.85 percent by mid-afternoon. Parbhani, Thane, Vasai-Virar and Panvel followed closely. However, polling day also triggered controversy. Voters raised allegations about the use of marker pens with “erasable ink.” Opposition leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray, criticised the Election Commission over the issue.
Exit Poll Signals and What Lies Ahead
Exit polls have pointed towards a strong performance by the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, particularly in the BMC elections. Axis My India projected 131 to 151 seats for the BJP–Shiv Sena alliance. It estimated 58 to 68 seats for the Shiv Sena (UBT)–MNS–NCP (SP) bloc. The Congress–VBA–RSP alliance may secure 12 to 16 seats. JVC echoed similar numbers and projected at least 138 seats for the BJP-led alliance. As results unfold, Mumbai remains the key battleground with far-reaching political consequences.
