Today, Thursday, January 15, 2026, Maharashtra is witnessing a monumental political showdown as 29 municipal corporations, including the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), go to the polls.1
The defining headline of this “mini-assembly election” is the historic reunion of the Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, who have joined forces after 20 years to safeguard their family legacy and consolidate the Marathi vote.2
The “Thackeray Reunion” vs. Mahayuti3
After two decades of bitter rivalry, Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT) and Raj Thackeray (MNS) have formed a strategic alliance to reclaim the BMC—the world’s richest civic body, which the undivided Shiv Sena controlled for 25 years until 2022.4
- The Shared Goal: The cousins aim to prevent a split in the “Marathi Manoos” vote bank, which they believe was being exploited by the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.5
- The Manifesto: Their joint “Vachan Nama” (Promissory Note) includes populist promises like:
- ₹1,500 monthly allowance for female domestic helps and the Koli community.
- Property tax waivers for houses up to 700 sq ft.
- 100 units of free power for residential users in Mumbai.
- The Rhetoric: The Mahayuti (BJP-Shinde-Ajit Pawar) has countered this by claiming a Thackeray win would lead to a “Muslim Mayor,” while the cousins have guaranteed that Mumbai’s Mayor will remain “Hindu and Marathi.”
High-Stakes Civic Battle in Numbers
The scale of the January 2026 polls is massive, serving as a direct test of the 2024 political splits.
| Feature | BMC (Mumbai) Details | Maharashtra-wide (29 Corps) |
| Total Seats | 227 Wards | 2,869 Seats |
| Total Candidates | 1,700 | 15,931 |
| Annual Budget | Over ₹74,400 crore | N/A |
| Voter Base | ~1.03 Crore | ~3.48 Crore |
| Key Contest | UBT+MNS vs. BJP+Shinde | MVA vs. Mahayuti |
Current Status & Key Incidents
- Voting Day (Jan 15): Polling began at 7:30 AM and is currently concluding.6 Turnout in Mumbai was recorded at approximately 41% by 3:30 PM, with Colaba seeing the lowest participation.7+1
- Unopposed Wins: Before a single vote was cast, the Mahayuti alliance already secured 68 seats unopposed across the state (44 for BJP, 22 for Shinde Sena, 2 for Ajit Pawar NCP), leading to allegations of coercion by the opposition.8
- Controversies: Uddhav Thackeray has today called the State Election Commission “anti-constitutional,” alleging irregularities and “duplicate voters” orchestrated by the ruling coalition.9
- Violence: A scuffle was reported in Dhule, where an EVM was damaged in Ward 18, briefly stalling the process.10
What’s Next?
The fate of Mumbai and 28 other cities is now sealed in the EVMs. Counting will begin tomorrow, Friday, January 16, 2026, at 10:00 AM, with results expected by late evening.