The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections are set to take place on January 15, 2026, with polling across 227 civic wards in Mumbai. The highly anticipated counting of votes will follow on January 16, 2026. This election marks a significant event as it ends a period of administrative rule that began after the corporators' term expired on March 7, 2022, following the last polls in 2017. The delays in holding these civic body elections were attributed to several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Supreme Court decisions regarding Other Backward Class (OBC) reservations, and issues concerning the delimitation of municipal wards. Notably, the upcoming counting process introduces a significant change from the 2017 civic elections. Unlike the previous polls where vote counting was held simultaneously across all wards, this time, it will be conducted in a phase-wise manner. The new system dictates that votes for a maximum of 46 wards will be tallied at any given time. This procedural shift raises questions about its necessity, as highlighted in the original Times of India article, indicating a departure from previous practices. The BMC, recognized as India's wealthiest civic body, will see approximately 1,700 candidates vying for seats, including a substantial number of women. Voters in Mumbai will finally exercise their franchise to elect representatives to manage the city's civic infrastructure and substantial budget.