BMC election results 2026: Counting to begin for 227 wards; Mahayuti eyes Mumbai throne

Mumbai: Counting of votes for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls will begin today at 10:00 a.m. across 23 designated centres in Mumbai. Civic officials have established a strict protocol for the enumeration, which is expected to determine the leadership of India’s wealthiest municipal body.

Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani, following a final review on Thursday, confirmed that 2,299 officials have been deployed to oversee the process. The personnel include 759 supervisors, 770 assistants, and 770 Class IV employees, all of whom underwent specialised training for the high-stakes exercise.

Security and Surveillance Measures

The counting centres are under heavy security and CCTV surveillance. Gagrani emphasised that the process will comply strictly with the Election Commission of India guidelines and the Model Code of Conduct.

"All necessary measures have been taken to ensure the counting process is transparent, smooth, and completed within the stipulated time," Gagrani said.

In addition to police coordination for law and order, the BMC has implemented:

• Medical and Fire Safety: Emergency facilities are stationed at each of the 23 centres.
• Media Enclosures: Separate areas have been designated for accredited journalists.
• Accurate Tabulation: A computerised system will be used to compile and declare results to ensure transparency.

Phase-Wise Counting Could Delay Trends

Unlike the 2017 elections, where all 227 wards were counted simultaneously, this year’s process will be phased. Each of the 23 Returning Officers will manage the tallying for two wards at a time. This means only 46 wards will be counted in the initial round starting at 10 a.m.

Officials acknowledge this shift may delay the emergence of city-wide trends and final results. Gagrani noted the process might take about an hour longer than in previous years, though the focus on fewer wards at a time is intended to ensure higher accuracy with available human resources.

Stakes for 1,700 Candidates

With approximately 1,700 candidates in the fray for 227 seats, the results will decide who controls the BMC’s ₹74,400 crore budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Exit polls have predicted a lead for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, though the challenge from the Thackeray-led opposition remains a central point of the contest.

Entry to counting venues is strictly restricted to candidates, their authorised representatives, and media personnel holding valid identity cards issued by the Election Department.

Exit Poll Projections

Data from major pollsters released late Thursday show the BJP-Sena combine maintaining momentum following their assembly election victory last year.

• Axis My India: Predicts 131-151 seats for the BJP-Sena alliance, with a projected 42% vote share. It places the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS, and NCP (SP) alliance second with 58-68 seats.
• Janmat: Forecasts 138 seats for the Mahayuti and 62 for the Thackeray-led alliance.
• Saam TV: Projects 84 seats for the BJP alone and 35 for Shinde’s Sena, totalling 119 for the alliance.

The Congress-led alliance, which includes the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), is expected to secure between 12 and 25 seats across various polls.