According to data released by the State Election Commissioner on Friday, there was 52.94 per cent voting in the recently concluded Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. The elections to one of India’s richest municipal corporations, which concluded on Thursday, were marred by allegations of Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance, which were later rejected by the Election Commission.
These elections, held after a gap of eight years, proved to be an important civic process for Mumbai. The last BMC elections were held in 2017, while the tenure of the last elected mayor, Kishori Pednekar, ended in March 2022. With the elections over, Mumbai is going to get a new mayor after almost four years.
According to the released data, the highest turnout was recorded in Ward 114 at around 65.53 per cent, while the lowest turnout was recorded in Ward 227 at 20.88 per cent.
Out of total 1,03,44,315 voters in the voter list, 54,76,043 voters exercised their franchise. Of the total voters, about 3.7 lakh men exercised their franchise as compared to women. A total of 29,23,433 men, 25,52,359 women and 251 transgender voters also cast their votes in 277 wards.
However, the number of male voters is 6.9 lakh more than female voters. Percentage-wise, about 52.2 per cent of men voted, while 52.8 per cent of women voters cast their votes.
Exit polls have predicted a victory for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, with the Thackeray brothers likely to finish second and the Congress and its allies failing to put up a strong showing.
According to Axis My India estimates, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is in a position to win 131-151 seats; Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS-NCP (SP) alliance 58-68 seats; Congress-VBA-RSP alliance 12-16 seats; And can win other 6-12 seats.
Elections were held for 227 seats of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and any party or alliance needs 114 seats for a simple majority.
Axis My India also estimated vote share, estimating 42% vote share for the Mahayuti allies (BJP 28%, Shiv Sena 14%). It projected Shiv Sena (UBT) to get 24 percent votes, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to get 7 percent and NCP (SP) to get 1 percent. The three parties contested the elections in alliance.
Congress has formed an alliance with Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP) for the UP civic elections.
According to DV Research, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is likely to get 107-122 seats; Thackeray brothers’ alliance gets 68-83 seats; Congress-led alliance gets 18-25 seats; And others are likely to get 8-15 seats.
Voting was held in 227 wards in the capital Mumbai, in which around 1,700 candidates were in the fray.
According to Janmat exit polls, BJP and Shiv Sena are likely to get 138 seats; Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS-NCP (SP) alliance gets 62 seats; Congress-led alliance gets 20 seats; And others may get 7 seats. It is estimated in this poll that there may be an error of five seats in the estimate.
The undivided Shiv Sena was a powerful force in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. In the last elections held in 2007, it had won 84 seats, while the BJP had won 82 seats. However, the party split in 2022, due to which current Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde decided to part ways with the party.
The Bharatiya Janata Party contested the BMC elections in alliance with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The election was also being seen as a vote in support of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s development plans, given a well-planned election campaign and the BJP’s massive electoral machinery in support of the grand alliance.
However, challenging him, estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray formed an alliance, contesting the elections on the issue of protecting Marathi identity.
Counting of votes for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections will begin at 10:00 am today at 23 designated counting centers in Mumbai.
