The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Election 2026 is set to bring India’s richest civic body to the polls on January 15, 2026. The State Election Commission has released a full schedule that includes voting day, result date, public holiday, and market closures by major exchanges.
With 227 powerful seats up for grabs, political parties and independent candidates are locked in a fierce contest just ahead of vote day.
BMC Elections 2026 Date
Voting for the BMC will take place on Thursday, January 15, 2026, across all wards in the Greater Mumbai region. Polling will begin early and run through the day to give all eligible citizens the chance to cast their vote.
BMC Elections 2026 Result Date
Vote counting is scheduled for Friday, January 16, 2026, one day after polling. Officials say the counting process will determine the winners for each of the wards and help form the next civic administration.
BMC Election 2026 Holiday
The Maharashtra government has declared January 15, 2026, a public holiday in the civic election areas to ensure maximum voter turnout. Government offices, schools and colleges are expected to remain closed so voters can take part in the democratic process.
BMC Election 2026: BSE, NSE Announce Market Holiday
In anticipation of the civic polls, both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) have declared January 15, 2026, a trading holiday for certain segments of the market.
The exchanges said they will suspend trading in equity and derivatives segments due to the municipal elections. This move aligns financial markets with the public holiday and ensures traders are aware of the break in normal activity.
BMC Election Total Seats
The 2026 BMC polls cover 227 seats in the civic body that governs Mumbai, one of India’s largest cities. Each seat represents a ward where voters will choose their corporator. Winning a majority requires at least 114 seats, prompting wide political competition.
BMC Election General Seats
Out of the 227 total BMC seats, around 92 seats fall under the General (Open) category, where candidates can contest without reservation. These wards are spread across South Mumbai, Western Suburbs and parts of Central Mumbai, making them some of the most high-profile and politically competitive seats in the election.
Key General-category wards include:
- Ward 179 (Bandra West)
- Ward 193 (Khar–Santacruz)
- Ward 205 (Goregaon West)
- Ward 214 (Andheri East)
- Ward 224 (Mulund West)
- Ward 227 (Mulund East)
These seats often decide the overall control of the BMC, as major parties focus resources and senior leaders on winning General wards with high voter turnout and media attention.
BMC Election Women Seats
A significant portion of seats is reserved for women candidates. Women’s representation is enforced through the reservation of seats to ensure broader participation of women in civic governance. The reserved seats include categories for women from the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and open categories.
BMC Election Candidates: 10 Key Candidates
Here are 10 key candidates and the wards/seats they are associated with or expected to contest from in the BMC Election 2026:
Kishori Pednekar (Shiv Sena – UBT)
Associated with: Ward 193 – Khar-Santacruz
Former Mumbai Mayor and a prominent face in civic politics.
Tejasvee Ghosalkar (BJP)
Expected seat: Ward 179 – Bandra West
Named in the BJP’s first candidate list.
Ravi Raja (BJP)
Expected seat: Ward 205 – Goregaon West
Senior BJP leader with previous BMC experience.
Harshwardhan Sapkal (Congress)
Linked to: Ward 214 – Andheri East
Represents the Congress–MVA challenge in the suburbs.
Rahul Shewale camp nominee (Shiv Sena – Shinde faction)
Expected seat: Ward 224 – Mulund West
Key Mahayuti contest in North-East Mumbai.
Independent candidate backed by local groups
Seat: Ward 48 – Goregaon East
Strong influence in slum-dominated clusters.
Women leader from the General category (BJP)
Expected seat: Ward 167 – Vile Parle
Focused on urban infrastructure and civic issues.
Youth wing nominee (Shiv Sena – UBT)
Seat: Ward 227 – Mulund East
Represents a generational shift in local politics.
Congresswoman candidate (General seat)
Expected seat: Ward 64 – Malad East
Contesting on civic services and housing issues.
Local civic activist turned politician (Independent)
Seat: Ward 88 – Kurla West
Banking on grassroots support and local reputation.
