Mumbai: Polling for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including the high-profile Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), concluded at 5:30 pm on Thursday, bringing an end to an intense day of voting. According to State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare, the overall voter turnout across urban bodies is estimated to be between 46 and 50 per cent, reflecting moderate participation in one of the biggest civic electoral exercises in the state.
As soon as polling ended, attention shifted to exit polls, which are indicating a clear advantage for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. The alliance, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and allies, is projected to emerge as the single largest force in Mumbai’s civic body.
Exit Poll Numbers Signal Clear Lead
The JVC Exit Poll suggests that the Mahayuti could secure around 138 seats in the 227-member BMC, putting it well ahead of its rivals. The alliance of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray is estimated to win about 59 seats, while the Congress may be limited to 23 seats. Smaller parties and independents together are expected to account for around 7 seats.
Another major projection by Axis My India highlights vote-share trends rather than seat counts, offering insight into voter preferences. According to Axis estimates, the BJP alone has secured around 28 per cent of the vote, followed by Shiv Sena (UBT) at 24 per cent. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena is projected at 14 per cent, while the Congress-led grouping, including VBA and RSP, stands at about 13 per cent. Smaller players and independents together account for the remaining 13 per cent, with MNS estimated at 7 per cent.
Alliance-Wise Vote Share
Axis My India’s data further indicates that the BJP–Shiv Sena (Shinde) combine may have collectively garnered close to 42 per cent of the votes. The opposition bloc led by Shiv Sena (UBT) is projected at around 32 per cent, while the Congress-led front trails at 13 per cent.
