BJP and Shinde's Shiv Sena Lead Mumbai Civic Polls Amid High Voter Turnout

The BJP and its ally Shiv Sena are leading in the Mumbai municipal corporation elections as counting progresses. Despite a voter turnout of 52.94%, less than the previous elections, the ruling alliance seems poised for a major win across 29 municipal corporations after a significant political realignment.

In the latest developments from the Mumbai municipal corporation elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and ally Shiv Sena are leading as early trends emerge after vote counting commenced on Friday morning.

Television channels have reported that the BJP is leading in 16 of the 227 wards, with the Shiv Sena, under Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, leading in 10 wards. However, the State Election Commission has yet to confirm these early results.

This election is the first for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) since a significant political reshuffle in 2022, when Eknath Shinde broke away from the Shiv Sena, leading to further realignments in the region's political landscape.

(With inputs from agencies.)