BMC Election Vote Counting to Begin at 10 AM Across 23 Centres in Mumbai

Mumbai, Jan 2026 : The counting of votes for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections will begin at 10 am on Thursday at 23 designated counting centres spread across Mumbai, Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani announced on Wednesday. The process will determine the political composition of India’s richest civic body, which oversees Mumbai’s municipal administration.

Gagrani said that all arrangements for the counting exercise have been finalised and that the process will be conducted strictly in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India and the Model Code of Conduct. He emphasised that transparency, efficiency and adherence to timelines will be the guiding principles throughout the exercise.

In an official statement, the BMC said elaborate preparations have been put in place to ensure a smooth and orderly counting process. These include extensive security arrangements, traffic regulation plans and measures to maintain law and order across the city. The detailed counting plan has received formal approval from the Municipal Commissioner.

According to the civic body, 23 Returning Officers have been appointed to oversee the counting for the 227 wards under the BMC’s jurisdiction. Strong rooms and counting halls assigned to each Returning Officer have been identified in advance and approved jointly by the Public Works Department and the Mumbai Police to ensure safety and logistical efficiency.

Earlier on Thursday, Gagrani conducted a comprehensive review of the counting arrangements along with senior civic and election officials. Those present included Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Ashwini Joshi, Special Officer (Election) Vijay Balamwar, Deputy Commissioner Vishwas Shankarwar, Additional District Collector (Konkan Division) Farog Mukadam, Assistant Commissioner Gajanan Bellale, Deputy District Collector Mahadev Kirwale, and all 23 Returning Officers.

The Municipal Commissioner said all necessary measures have been taken to ensure that the counting process is completed smoothly, transparently and within the stipulated timeframe. Detailed planning has been carried out for the layout of counting centres, table allocation, deployment of trained staff and installation of CCTV cameras for round-the-clock surveillance. Fire safety arrangements and the availability of medical facilities at all centres have also been ensured.

Coordination with the Police Department has been strengthened to prevent any law-and-order issues during the counting process. Police personnel will be deployed in and around counting venues, while access control measures will be strictly enforced to avoid overcrowding or unauthorised entry.

For the counting exercise, a total of 2,299 officers and staff have been deployed. This includes 759 supervisors, 770 counting assistants and 770 Class IV employees. Election officials said all personnel involved in the process have undergone prior training to ensure accuracy, discipline and compliance with established procedures.

To minimise inconvenience to citizens, traffic control measures and designated parking arrangements have been put in place around the counting centres. Separate enclosures have also been created for media personnel to facilitate orderly coverage of the results. A computerised system will be used for the tabulation and declaration of results to enhance accuracy and transparency.

Only authorised candidates, their officially appointed representatives and media persons carrying valid identity cards issued by the Election Department will be permitted to enter the counting premises. Election officials have urged all stakeholders to strictly follow the instructions issued by the Maharashtra State Election Commission to ensure a peaceful and credible conclusion to the BMC election process.

Team Maverick.