The nomination process for the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections in Maharashtra has officially commenced, bringing political activity to a peak across urban centres in the state. The elections will be held for 29 Municipal Corporations, including major civic bodies such as Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Nashik, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Solapur, Kolhapur, and Amravati.
Nomination Schedule
- Start of nomination filing: 23 December
- Last date to file nominations: 30 December
- Scrutiny of nomination papers: 31 December
- Last date for withdrawal: 2 January
- Final list of candidates & symbol allotment: 3 January
Candidates are required to submit their nomination papers at the offices of the respective Returning Officers within the prescribed time.
Total Seats at Stake
- Across Maharashtra, approximately 2,800+ councillor seats are up for election in Municipal Corporations.
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) alone accounts for 227 corporator seats making it the most prestigious and politically significant civic body in the country.
Each elected councillor will represent a ward and serve a five year term.
Political Activity and Alliances
With the nomination window open, all major political parties BJP, Shiv Sena (both factions) Congress, NCP and AIMIM are accelerating candidate selection and finalizing seat sharing arrangements. While some aspirants have already filed nominations, many parties are expected to announce official candidates closer to the deadline due to ongoing alliance talks and internal surveys.
Independent candidates have also shown strong interest, particularly in urban wards where local issues dominate voter sentiment.
What Is Important to Publish – Highlight
For public awareness and transparency, the following points are considered crucial during the nomination phase:
- Last date of nomination filing (30 December)
- Total number of wards and seats in each Municipal Corporation
- Names of major candidates and party nominees (including AIMIM candidates where applicable)
- Details of reserved wards (SC, ST, OBC, Women)
- Scrutiny and rejection of invalid nominations
- Compliance with election rules and expenditure limits
- Enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct
Why These Elections Matter
Municipal Corporations control key urban services such as:
- Drinking water supply
- Roads and drainage
- Garbage collection and waste management
- Public health facilities
- Town planning and building permissions
Winning control of civic bodies provides political parties significant influence over urban governance and development.
What’s Next
Once nominations and withdrawals are completed, the election campaign will formally intensify. Political parties including AIMIM will release local manifestos, conduct rallies and focus on ward level outreach ahead of polling scheduled for mid January, with vote counting the following day.
