The Aryavarth Express
Mumbai (Maharashtra):
As voting for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections began on Thursday morning, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC launched a sharp attack on Opposition parties, accusing them of preparing “excuses for their defeat” and expressing confidence that Mumbaikars would vote in favour of development.
Speaking after offering prayers at the Shree Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai, Shaina NC said the Opposition routinely blames institutions and agencies whenever election results do not go their way. “The opposition is finding excuses for its defeat—sometimes EVMs, sometimes the Election Commission, ED, CBI, or even the voters. That is their politics of photo-ops and theatrics. I am confident that Mumbaikars will vote only for development,” she said.
Reiterating a stance echoed by several leaders, she asserted that Mumbai’s mayor would be a “Marathi manus and a Hindu” committed to the city’s progress. “The mayor of Mumbai will be a Marathi manus, a Hindu, whose heart beats for this city and who genuinely wants to work for its development,” she added.
Urging citizens to participate in the democratic process, the Shiv Sena leader encouraged voters to exercise their franchise. “With the blessings of Maa Mumba Devi and Shri Siddhivinayak, voting has begun. I appeal to every Mumbaikar to cast their vote, as democracy empowers you to raise your voice and ask questions,” she said.
Polling began at 7:30 am on Thursday, with voters lining up at polling booths across the city. In Mumbai alone, around 1,700 candidates are contesting the BMC elections. A total of 1,03,44,315 voters are eligible to vote, including 55,16,707 men, 48,26,509 women and 1,099 voters from other categories.
Besides Mumbai, civic elections are being held in 28 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra. The counting of votes is scheduled for Friday, January 16.
To encourage higher voter turnout, the Maharashtra government has declared January 15 a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act. The holiday applies to all government and semi-government offices, corporations and banks within the jurisdictions of the 29 municipal corporations going to the polls.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting the BMC elections in alliance with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Meanwhile, the Congress party, which is part of the Mahayuti alliance in the state and the NDA at the Centre, has joined hands with the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) in key municipal corporations such as Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Prominent civic bodies going to the polls include Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nagpur, Nashik, Solapur, Kolhapur, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and several others across Maharashtra.
