BMC Elections Begin with Early Voting as Ashish Shelar Says, “This Election Is Very Important for Mumbai’s Development”

Mumbai: Polling for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections commenced at 7:30 am on Thursday, January 15, after a gap of nearly four years, with Mumbai witnessing an energetic start to the crucial civic exercise. Several well-known faces were among the early voters, setting the tone for the day.

Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar was one of the first to cast his vote at a polling booth in Bandra’s Hill Road area. Speaking after voting, Shelar underlined the significance of the BMC polls, pointing to the role the civic body plays in shaping Mumbai’s future.

“This is a very important election for the municipal corporation and for the development of Mumbai city. I appeal to voters to come out in large numbers,” Shelar said, urging citizens to actively participate in the democratic process.

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar also voted early at Gandhi Shikshan Bhavan in Juhu. Encouraging people to step out of their homes, the actor stressed that real change begins with voting and not just discussions on social media or television debates.

Polling booths across Mumbai reported steady footfall in the morning hours, with many voters choosing to cast their ballots early to avoid long queues later in the day. The enthusiasm reflected the high stakes attached to the election, which will determine control of India’s richest municipal body.

The election covers all 227 corporator seats, with nearly 1,700 candidates in the fray. More than 1.03 crore voters are eligible to decide the civic leadership. To boost voter turnout, the state government has declared a public holiday.