Vote Counting to Begin at 10 a.m. Tomorrow in 23 Counting Centres: Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation General Elections 2025–26

Mumbai, Jan 2026 : The counting of votes cast today (January 15, 2026) in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) General Elections 2025–26 will begin on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 10 a.m. The counting will be conducted at 23 counting centres located at various places across the city. Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani has approved the detailed plan prepared for the counting process. The counting will be carried out strictly in accordance with the guidelines of the Election Commission of India and in full compliance with the Model Code of Conduct. Necessary precautions have been taken regarding security arrangements, traffic management, and maintenance of law and order during the counting process.

In connection with the BMC General Elections 2025–26, a total of 23 Returning Officers have been appointed for the 227 electoral wards within the municipal limits. As per the schedule announced by the State Election Commission, the counting of votes will commence at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 16, 2026. For this purpose, strong rooms and counting venues have been finalised under the jurisdiction of each Returning Officer. All these locations have received the required approvals from the Public Works Department and the Police Department.

Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani reviewed the counting arrangements. Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. Ashwini Joshi, Special Officer (Elections) Vijay Balmavar, Deputy Commissioner (Assessment and Collection) Vishwas Shankarwar, Additional District Collector (Konkan Division) Farog Mukadam, Assistant Commissioner (Assessment and Collection) Gajanan Bellale, Sub-Divisional Officer Mahadev Kirwale, along with all 23 Returning Officers, were present during the review.

Commissioner Gagrani stated that the vote counting process will be conducted by strictly following all the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. All necessary measures have been put in place to ensure that the counting process is transparent, smooth, and completed within the stipulated time. Detailed planning has been finalised covering the layout and arrangement of counting centres, table arrangements, deployment of officers and staff, security measures, CCTV surveillance, as well as fire safety and medical facilities. Coordination has been established with the police department to ensure that no law-and-order issues arise during the counting process, and adequate security arrangements have been deployed.

For the counting process, 759 supervisors, 770 assistants, and 770 Class IV employees have been appointed. Counting officers, supervisors, and assistant staff have been provided prior training. Traffic regulation, parking arrangements, and separate enclosures for media personnel have been set up in the vicinity of counting centres. A computerised system will be used to ensure accuracy and transparency while declaring the results.

Authorized representatives, candidates, and media personnel have been advised to be present on time. Only individuals who have been issued identity cards by the Election Department will be permitted entry into the counting centres. Compliance with the instructions issued by the State Election Commission is mandatory. Commissioner Gagrani has directed all concerned departments to work in close coordination to ensure that the counting process is conducted peacefully and credibly, thereby further strengthening public trust in democracy.