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Maharashtra Elections 2026 Exit Poll Live Updates: Highlights

THE TIMES OF INDIA | Jan 16, 2026, 08:26:31 IST

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Maharashtra Elections 2026 Exit Poll Live Updates: Highlights

Maharashtra Elections Exit Poll Live Updates: Polling for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections concluded at 5.30 pm today, with voting held across all 227 wards in the city. A total of 1,700 candidates were in the fray, while more than 1.03 crore citizens were eligible to cast their votes. Mumbai Police had ramped up security through the day, deploying additional personnel, installing barricades and conducting checks to ensure peaceful polling.

Election authorities rolled out several voter-friendly initiatives, including pink polling booths staffed entirely by women and special teams to assist senior citizens. South Mumbai Returning Officer Krishna Jadhav appealed to voters to take part in the democratic exercise, pointing to measures taken to ensure a smooth and accessible voting process.

Exit polls for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections has projected the BJP emerging as the single largest party with 138 seats, followed by the Shiv Sena (UBT) with 59 seats and the Congress with 23 seats. Other parties and independents are expected to secure around seven seats, according to the projections.

The civic polls are seen as a high-stakes political contest in Maharashtra, especially for the Thackeray brothers following the Shiv Sena split in 2022. The results are expected to indicate whether their political influence continues to hold sway in Mumbai and beyond. Votes will be counted on January 16, after polling across 29 municipal corporations in the state. Stay with TOI for the latest updates.

06:43 (IST) Jan 15

Maharashtra Civic Body Elections 2026 Live: Uddhav Thackeray & Raj Thackeray visit Mumbadevi temple

A day before the BMC polls, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray visited Mumbadevi temple on Wednesday. They were accompained by their wives and children, as well as Sena (UBT) MPs Anil Desai, Sanjay Raut, and Arvind Sawant. The visit to Mumbadevi, revered as the patron goddess of Mumbai, is symbolic as the Thackeray cousins have claimed that they are fighting the election together to “save” the city.

06:37 (IST) Jan 15

Maharashtra Civic Body Elections 2026 Live: 'Making every effort to encourage voters', says returning officer Krishna Jadhav

On BMC Elections, South Mumbai Returning Officer Krishna Jadhav says, "We have a team in place that will assist senior citizens. They will take them to the voting compound...We encourage voters to come and cast their votes. We are making every effort to ensure this. For women, we have created pink booths. The pink polling station means that all the staff working at that booth will be women. The polling station will be decorated in pink, and the women working at that polling station will also wear pink sarees. So, we have introduced this new activity for the people here."

06:26 (IST) Jan 15

Mumbai BMC Elections 2026 Live: BMC's election expenditure

06:21 (IST) Jan 15

BMC Elections 2026 Live: Token-based system introduced to manage last-minute rush

To handle the expected rush during the final hour of polling, election authorities have introduced a token-based system. Voters present at polling stations by 5.30 pm will receive numbered tokens, with the last voter in the queue getting Token No. 1. Entry will then be closed, and tokens will be distributed in reverse order to voters ahead, ensuring all token holders can cast their vote even if polling extends beyond the official closing time.

06:07 (IST) Jan 15

BMC Elections 2026 Live: Voter demographics and participation

Over 1.03 crore citizens are eligible to vote in the BMC elections, including 55.16 lakh male voters, 48.26 lakh female voters, and 1,099 others. With approximately 1,700 candidates contesting for 227 seats, voter turnout will play a crucial role in shaping the civic landscape and determining the balance of power in the city’s municipal governance.

06:07 (IST) Jan 15

BMC Elections 2026 Live: Political stakes high

The BMC elections carry significant political importance. The Thackeray brothers, Raj and Uddhav, are looking to regain influence following Shiv Sena’s split in 2022, while the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance seeks to consolidate its gains after the ruling Mahayuti’s strong performance in last year’s assembly elections.

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06:05 (IST) Jan 15

Maharashtra Civic Body Elections 2026 Live: Voter-friendly initiatives

South Mumbai Returning Officer Krishna Jadhav outlined measures to make the voting process easier for all citizens. Teams will assist senior citizens to reach polling booths. Special “pink booths” have been created for women, staffed entirely by female personnel and decorated in pink, with staff wearing pink sarees, to provide a comfortable and encouraging environment for women voters.

06:05 (IST) Jan 15

Mumbai Elections 2026 Live: Voting Schedule and Process

Polling in Mumbai will take place from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm across 227 wards, with votes counted on January 16. Election officials have emphasized that arrangements have been made to facilitate smooth voting, including sufficient polling staff and equipment at all booths.

06:04 (IST) Jan 15

BMC Elections 2026 Live: Tightened security measures

Mumbai Police have stepped up security ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for Thursday. Barricades have been installed at key locations, and vehicles are being checked to ensure peaceful and orderly polling. Authorities are leaving no stone unturned to maintain law and order during the civic polls.

Maharashtra Elections Exit Poll Live Updates: Polling for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections conculded at 5.30 pm across all 227 wards, with 1,700 candidates contesting and over 1.03 crore voters eligible to vote. Heavy security arrangements were put in place to ensure peaceful polling, while voter-friendly measures such as pink booths and assistance for senior citizens were introduced. Exit polls project the BJP as the single largest party with 138 seats, followed by Shiv Sena (UBT) with 59 and Congress with 23. The high-stakes civic polls will test post-split Shiv Sena politics. Counting is scheduled for January 16.

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