Exit polls released after voting concluded on Thursday predict a sweeping victory for the BJP and the Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. The results for the BMC and 28 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra will be officially declared on Friday.
Projected Numbers Point to Alliance Dominance
Three major exit polls all indicate the BJP-Shinde Sena combine will emerge as the clear winner in India's richest civic body. Axis-My India projects the alliance securing between 131 and 151 of the 227 total seats in the BMC.
This would mark a historic shift, potentially ending the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena's three-decade-long control over Mumbai's municipal administration. The Thackeray faction, now known as Shiv Sena (UBT), is projected to win only a handful of seats alongside its allies.
Detailed Seat Projections Across Pollsters
Different polling agencies provided slightly varying numbers, but all pointed in the same direction:
- Axis-My India: BJP-Shinde Sena: 131-151 seats; Sena (UBT) and MNS: 58-68 seats; Others: 6-12 seats.
- JVC Exit Poll: BJP-Sena: 138 seats; Thackeray faction and NCP (SP): 59 seats; Congress-VBA alliance: 23 seats; Others: 7 seats.
- Saam TV Exit Poll: BJP-Sena: 119 seats; Sena (UBT) and MNS: 75 seats; Congress-VBA alliance: 20 seats; Others: 8 seats.
Pune Also Leans Toward BJP
The ruling party appears poised to retain control in Pune as well, another significant municipal corporation. The PRAB exit poll projects the BJP winning 93 out of 165 seats in Pune, a traditional NCP stronghold that the party captured in the last civic elections held in 2017.
The NCP factions led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar, who formed an alliance specifically to counter the BJP, are projected to win around 51 seats combined in Mumbai. The Congress is expected to secure approximately 8 seats.
Ink Controversy Mars Otherwise Peaceful Polling
While Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani reported largely peaceful polling with a 53% voter turnout in Mumbai as of late Thursday, the day was not without controversy. Multiple voters across the city complained that the indelible ink applied to their fingers at polling stations washed off easily.
This triggered immediate outcry from opposition parties, who raised serious questions about electoral integrity. The State Election Commission promptly ordered an investigation into the matter. SEC officials announced they would not use marker pens in the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections later this month.
Political Reactions to the Ink Issue
Opposition leaders were quick to criticize the administration over the ink problem. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded the suspension of SEC chief Dinesh Waghmare. MNS president Raj Thackeray directly blamed the state government, alleging the marker pens were deliberately faulty.
"This shows that the government can do anything to stay in power," Thackeray claimed dramatically. Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad took to social media to express concerns, stating the election management "raises several questions about accountability and transparency."
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded to the allegations by stating he too had been marked with a marker. "The SEC should look into this issue and use something else," Fadnavis said, while defending the election process as impartial.
Confident BJP Leadership Credits Development Work
State BJP president Ravindra Chavan expressed confidence in the exit poll projections. "We were confident of sweeping the BMC polls," Chavan stated. He attributed the expected mandate to development work carried out under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis specifically for Mumbai.
If the exit poll predictions hold true when results are announced on Friday, Mumbai will see its first-ever BJP mayor. This would represent a significant political realignment in Maharashtra's capital, where the Shiv Sena has dominated municipal politics for generations.
The BMC has been under administrative control since March 2022, when the elected house completed its term. The 2026 elections thus carry particular significance for restoring democratic governance to the city's crucial civic body.
