Mumbai witnessed an energetic start to civic voting on Thursday morning as polling opened for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), ending a prolonged period without an elected municipal body. From early hours, voters lined up across the city’s wards, signalling strong public interest in an election that will shape governance in India’s financial capital.
Polling began in all 227 wards with a crowded field of candidates contesting for control of the powerful civic body. Long queues were seen outside several polling stations soon after voting commenced, especially in residential pockets and areas with a large number of daily commuters eager to vote before work.
Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray cast his vote in Bandra along with his family members. After voting, he urged citizens to actively take part in the election process, stressing that public participation is crucial for strengthening democracy at the local level. He appealed to voters across Mumbai and other polling areas to step out and exercise their right.
However, Thackeray also expressed dissatisfaction over the long delay in conducting civic elections and questioned the accountability of the election administration. He raised concerns over the functioning of the system during the extended period when Mumbai remained without an elected municipal council and called for clarity and responsibility from authorities involved in conducting elections.
Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray voted with his family at a polling centre in the Shivaji Park area of Dadar. Speaking to reporters, he voiced strong criticism of the election process, alleging that transparency was lacking and that political outcomes were being prioritised over fair procedures.
Raj Thackeray also flagged concerns regarding voting systems and election management, claiming that political parties had not been given sufficient information despite repeated representations. He demanded that election authorities publicly clarify procedures and address doubts to restore voter confidence.
