Vote counting for the 2026 Brihan't turnout of 46-50%
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, held on January 15, saw a voter turnout of only 46-50%, according to the State Election Commission. Counting commenced at 10 AM on January 16, 2026, across Mumbai wards. Exit polls suggest the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set for a majority in the 227-ward body, which governs the city's civic affairs for the next five years. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray stated that 'people voted for Thackeray cousins,' referring to the alliance with his cousin Raj Thackeray's faction. The elections, delayed multiple times, determine Mumbai's municipal leadership. In 2017, Shiv Sena had won 84 seats, BJP 82, Congress 31, and others the rest. As results emerge, political parties are closely monitoring trends in key wards. The BMC, Asia's richest municipal body, handles Mumbai's infrastructure and services for over 12 million residents.
