Polling for 227 BMC seats underway in Maharashtra
Polling for Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election is going on in Maharashtra on Tuesday as 2,275 candidates are contesting the polls for its 227 seats. Considered as the biggest municipal corporation in the country, BMC is witnessing a multi-cornered fight between BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress, MNS, Samajwadi Party, BSP and others. The results will be declared on February 23.
The Shiv Sena and its estranged ally the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are locked in a close contest in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, an exit poll conducted by Axis-My India for India Today shows. According to the exit poll, the Shiv Sena may get around 86-90 seats, whereas the BJP may get around 80-88 seats in the 227-seat BMC.The Shiv Sena may get 32 per cent votes, whereas the BJP may also get 32 per cent votes. The Congress is likely to get 30-34 seats with a vote share of 16 per cent. On the other hand the NCP may manage just 3 to 6 seats. Raj Thackerays's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is expected to win 5-7 seats. The Samajwadi Party may also get 2 to 4 seats. Counting of votes for BMC election and 10 other civic bodies in Maharashtra is scheduled for February 23. The BMC polls are being dubbed a 'mini assembly' elections and are being seen as a referendum on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. VOTING DAY HIGHLIGHTS: Mumbai- 52.17Thane- 53.11Ulhasnagar- 46.83 Pune- 49.52Pimpri-Chinchwad- 51.86Nashik- 52.63Nagpur 49.95Solapur 44Amravati 51.62Akola 42.39Thane- 45.05Nasik- 43.33Pune- 43Pimpri Chinchwad- 43.80Solapur- 43Akola- 46.30Nagpur-40Mumbai- 32.17Thane- 35.1Ulhasnagar- 24.83Nashik- 30.63Pune-  30.53Pimpri Chinchwad- 30.86Solapur- 32.00Amarawati- 31.62Akola - 32.39Nagpur - 29.95Average-  31.01#BMCelection: Sachin Tendulkar arrived to cast his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai, with wife Anjali. pic.twitter.com/w3VXTCh7DRMy name has not shown up in the list unfortunately,its bizarre because I voted last year.Will find out from EC where is my name:Varun Dhawanpic.twitter.com/k7KPlZuY1GMumbai: CM Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis casts his vote, urges people to vote to bring about change. #BMCelectionpic.twitter.com/PR3ZoZeqkQShiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray, accompanied by his wife & son, queues up at a polling booth in Mumbai's Bandra East #BMCelectionpic.twitter.com/ra2jpP3jDiV O T E ???? pic.twitter.com/TRfhsN8zNqThis is democracy in full bloom!It is not just your right but your responsibility. I cast my vote. Have you? pic.twitter.com/QKdzE9X3V5Started my morning by casting my https://t.co/Z817hxXwb7 is our duty towards our country & its progress.Pls go out&vote #VoteKarMaharashtrapic.twitter.com/fgXGxjkEcVMaharashtra: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari casts his vote for Nagpur Municipal Corporation polls, at a booth located in Nagpur's Town Hall. pic.twitter.com/YhtvdEC3c1Mumbai: Shaina NC arrived to cast her vote at Napansea Rd polling booth on a cycle;could not find her name in the voter's list #BMCelectionpic.twitter.com/iUm5G0X0AAHere is our chance to stand by our Maharashtra! Let's vote, let's choose our leaders ??Flaunt your voting ink! Please RT! #VoteKarMaharashtrapic.twitter.com/7kGsREWIWGMumbai: Deepak Parekh,Chairman HDFC casts his vote,says, #DeMonetisation has nothing to do with these polls&we need to move on #BMCelectionpic.twitter.com/ROFUP8sZA3Mumbai: Senior citizens cast their vote at polling booth number 214(18) at Peddar Road. pic.twitter.com/Id7lRA6mmpMumbai: Tina Ambani casts her vote at a polling booth in Colaba, says she voted for good work in Mumbai city #BMCelectionpic.twitter.com/o2xj9IPhiOALSO READ | BMC polls: What Mumbai wants from new leadership as city readies to voteNagpur: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat casts his vote at a polling booth in Bharat Mahila Vidyalaya for Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections pic.twitter.com/7mOTW9xMnsElections to #BMC & nine other civic bodies in Maharashtra to be held today. Preparations underway at a booth on Mumbai's Pedder Road. pic.twitter.com/cjQOv9v08iALSO READ | BMC polls: All you need to know about the battle of might between Shiv Sena, BJP#TopStory-Voting in #CivicBodyPolls to start in multiple cities of Maharashtra at 7.30 am. People queue up at a booth on Mumbai's Pedder Road pic.twitter.com/2BsEVjHbnm