The counting of votes for the 2026 Maharashtra Civic Body Elections commenced at 10 AM on Friday, January 16, 2026, across 29 municipal corporations in the state, including the influential Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Polling for these civic bodies, which are being held after a significant gap since 2017, took place on Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Over 3.48 crore eligible voters participated in these elections, deciding the fate of thousands of candidates. Credible news outlets like NDTV, The Indian Express, The Economic Times, India Today, Mint, and The Times of India are providing live coverage of the results, confirming the accuracy of the original article's claims regarding the counting start time. Exit polls conducted by various agencies, including Axis My India and JVC, have largely predicted a sweeping victory for the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the BMC. These projections suggest the alliance could secure a comfortable majority, with some polls indicating a win of 131-151 seats in the 227-member BMC. The elections saw a crucial political battle, particularly in Mumbai, with the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance facing off against the Shiv Sena (UBT)-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena combine, which saw the Thackeray cousins reportedly reuniting. The outcome of these polls is highly anticipated, as they will significantly impact local governance and state politics in Maharashtra.