3Photo© thehindu.com29 Maharashtra civic bodies go to polls; Mumbai is big prize
Civic body polls will be held in Maharashtra on January 15. Twenty-nine municipal corporations are in the fray, including Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur. A public holiday has been declared in these areas as voting is set to take place from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. This means that several public services will remain closed on January 15. Residents are advised to complete any work in advance to avoid last-minute difficulties.
The main contest in the state will take place between the Mahayuti (the BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena) and the Shiv Sena UBT and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The National Congress Party and Congress are also in the fray. Elections are also being held for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), with 227 seats up for grabs. The party that secures 114 seats will hold the majority in the BMC.
Due to the Maharashtra municipal polls, government offices will be shut. Banks and schools will also remain closed. Schools and other educational institutions will also remain shut, and many schools and colleges will be used as polling stations. When it comes to the BMC, government, semi-government offices, public sector units and banks within BMC limits will be closed.