Overview
- Polls for 29 municipal corporations, including 227 BMC wards, will be held on January 15 with counting on January 16, the State Election Commission said as the Model Code of Conduct took effect.
- The SEC timeline sets notifications on December 16 and 18, nominations from December 23–30, scrutiny on December 31, withdrawals by January 2 and symbol allotment on January 3.
- Top Mahayuti leaders closed ranks to contest together, with BJP and Shinde‑led Shiv Sena setting a 150‑plus seat target in Mumbai and promising that the city’s next mayor will be Marathi.
- Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde escalated attacks on Shiv Sena (UBT), alleging the party ‘looted’ Mumbai’s treasury during its BMC tenure and vowing a decisive response in the civic polls.
- Opposition leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS flagged alleged flaws and duplicate entries in electoral rolls, as the SEC reported removals and star‑marking of suspected duplicates across a voter base of about 3.49 crore for 2,869 seats.