Mumbai – The Maharashtra State Election Commission is set to announce the highly anticipated Maharashtra elections result 2026 on Friday, January 16, as counting of votes begins at 10 am across the state. The elections saw participation from 2,869 seats across 893 wards in 29 municipal corporations, with Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) being the most prominent among them.
The civic body polls, held on January 15, have drawn significant attention due to shifting political dynamics and new alliances formed specifically for this electoral battle. Key municipal corporations including Pune, Thane, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayandar, Ulhasnagar, and Navi Mumbai are among the major battlegrounds where results will shape local governance for years to come.
Political Alliances Reshape Electoral Landscape
The Maharashtra elections result 2026 has gained importance due to unprecedented political realignments. Former rivals have joined hands while traditional allies have parted ways, creating an intriguing electoral contest. The most notable reunion involves Thackeray cousins Raj and Uddhav, who ended their long-standing rivalry last June to unite for these civic body polls.
Adding another layer of complexity, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is contesting against Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction in two crucial seats—Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. This internal family rivalry has captured public attention and is expected to significantly influence the final outcome.
Polling Day Overview and Voter Turnout
Voting commenced at 7:30 am on Thursday and continued until 5:30 pm across all 29 municipal corporations. State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare indicated that the overall voter turnout ranged between 46-50% across the civic bodies, though official final figures are still awaited.
By 3:30 pm on polling day, Kolhapur recorded the highest turnout at 50.85%, followed by Parbhani, Thane, Vasai-Virar, and Panvel. Mumbai’s BMC witnessed approximately 41% voter participation, a figure that will be closely analyzed as the Maharashtra elections result 2026 unfolds.
Controversy Over Erasable Ink Allegations
The polling day was marred by allegations regarding the use of erasable ink or marker pens at voting stations. Multiple voters claimed they could wipe off the ink mark from their fingers using hand sanitizers, raising concerns about potential irregularities.
Uddhav Thackeray addressed these allegations, stating that numerous complaints emerged about ink coming off immediately after voting. He suggested possible collusion between the Election Commission and the ruling party, alleging that various irregularities occurred during the electoral process. These claims have added a controversial dimension to the Maharashtra elections result 2026 announcement.
Complete List of 29 Municipal Corporations
The elections covered an extensive network of civic bodies across Maharashtra. Besides Mumbai’s BMC, other significant municipal corporations included Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Kalyan-Dombivli, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Solapur, Amravati, Akola, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Ulhasnagar, Thane, Chandrapur, Parbhani, Mira-Bhayandar, Nanded-Waghala, Panvel, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Latur, Malegaon, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Jalgaon, Ahilyanagar, Dhule, Jalna, and Ichalkaranji.
This comprehensive coverage across urban Maharashtra makes the Maharashtra elections result 2026 a crucial indicator of political sentiment in the state’s major cities and towns.
Exit Poll Predictions Favor Mahayuti Alliance
Multiple exit polls have projected favorable outcomes for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the BMC elections. According to projections, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is expected to secure between 131-151 seats in Mumbai’s civic body.
The Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS-NCP (SP) alliance is predicted to win 58-68 seats, while the Congress-VBA-RSP alliance may secure 12-16 seats. Other parties and independents are projected to win 6-12 seats. Similar predictions suggest the BJP-led alliance could win at least 138 seats across various municipal corporations.
Mahayuti’s Campaign Promises
During the campaign period, the Mahayuti alliance made several promises to voters, with a pothole-free Mumbai being one of their key commitments for the BMC. This infrastructure-focused agenda resonated with voters frustrated by civic issues.
What’s at Stake
As the Maharashtra elections result 2026 is announced today, the outcomes will determine the administrative control of Maharashtra’s major urban centers. The results will influence local governance, development projects, and political momentum ahead of future state and national elections. The counting process beginning at 10 am will reveal whether exit poll predictions hold true and which alliances successfully navigated the complex political landscape of Maharashtra’s civic body elections.
