The results for Maharashtra's local bodies elections will be announced today, Friday, January 16. Voters across the state cast their ballots on Thursday, January 15, for twenty-nine municipal corporations. The entire voting process concluded peacefully without any major disturbances.
Exit Polls Predict Clear Victory for Mahayuti Alliance
Multiple exit polls forecast a decisive win for the Mahayuti coalition, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena. These predictions suggest the alliance will secure a commanding majority in the crucial civic polls.
Detailed Vote Share and Seat Projections
Axis My India's exit poll provides specific figures. It projects the Mahayuti allies will capture forty-two percent of the total vote share. This breaks down to twenty-eight percent for the BJP and fourteen percent for the Shiv Sena.
The poll indicates the Shiv Sena (UBT) will receive twenty-four percent of the votes. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is predicted to get seven percent, while the NCP (SP) is forecasted to secure one percent. These three parties contested the elections as a united front.
Seat-Wise Forecasts from Various Pollsters
Different research agencies have released their seat projections. DV Research estimates the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will win between 107 and 122 seats. The alliance led by the Thackeray brothers is projected to secure 68 to 83 seats.
According to DV Research, the Congress-led alliance may get 18 to 25 seats. Other parties and independents could win between 8 and 15 seats in the municipal corporations.
The Janmat exit poll presents another view. It predicts the BJP and Shiv Sena will together win 138 seats. The Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS-NCP (SP) alliance is forecasted to get 62 seats.
Janmat's poll suggests the Congress-led alliance will secure 20 seats, with others taking 7 seats. This poll includes a margin of error of plus or minus five seats.
Saam TV's exit poll offers further details. It forecasts 84 seats for the BJP and 35 seats for its ally, the Shiv Sena. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is predicted to win 65 seats.
Saam TV's projection gives the NCP (SP) 2 seats and the MNS 10 seats. It estimates the Congress-led alliance will get 23 seats, the NCP 3 seats, and other candidates 5 seats.
Peaceful Voting with Moderate Turnout
Voting occurred smoothly across all municipal bodies. This includes major corporations like the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the Pune Municipal Corporation, and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. Officials reported no significant incidents during the polling process.
Voter turnout reached around fifty percent in Mumbai. A similar average was recorded in twenty-eight other municipal corporations across Maharashtra. Some sporadic clashes were reported, but they did not disrupt the overall process.
A minor controversy emerged during the voting. Reports suggested the indelible ink applied to voters' fingers could be removed easily. News agency PTI covered this issue, though it did not affect the election's integrity.
All eyes are now on the official results. The counting of votes will determine the actual outcome and shape the political landscape in Maharashtra's urban local bodies.
