Mumbai, Jan 16 (NationPress) As the tallying of votes for the 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra commenced on Friday, the Shiv Sena conveyed optimism about a strong showing, asserting that the electoral results have been steady across all levels, whether it be the Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, or municipal corporation elections.

In a statement to IANS, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC remarked that the electorate has demonstrated robust support for the Mahayuti alliance.

“Whether it’s the Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, or municipal elections, the results have been consistent. The collaborative efforts of Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis in terms of development are unparalleled. The public's message is clear: those who prefer to work from home should remain politically at home, while those who engage actively with the community earn the people's mandate,” she stated.

Another Shiv Sena representative, Manisha Kayande, pointed out that while exit polls have their utility, they often reflect inconsistent figures.

“We are entirely confident in the accomplishments of our leadership. Over the last three and a half years in Mumbai, under the respected leadership of Eknath Shinde and later Devendra Fadnavis, the city has experienced remarkable development and substantial infrastructure advancement,” she remarked.

Kayande further noted that the ongoing development efforts by the Mahayuti government have bolstered public confidence, and the outcomes of the civic elections will mirror the citizens' trust in the alliance's governance and vision for urban development in Maharashtra.

The counting of votes for the 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the crucial BMC, began at 10 a.m. on Friday.

The process is being executed across designated counting centers in Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and other significant cities, under stringent security measures.

Initial postal ballot trends and the first rounds of EVM counting are beginning to surface. Due to the “phased counting” approach and the vast number of candidates (over 1,700 in Mumbai alone), final official announcements for numerous wards may extend into the evening.

The State Election Commission (SEC) has reported a commendable turnout, which often indicates a desire for change or reveals a highly polarized electorate.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation recorded a turnout of 52.94% (with the highest in Bhandup at 64.53% and the lowest in Colaba at 20.88%), while Pune (PMC) had 54%, Pimpri-Chinchwad (PCMC) saw 58%, and Kolhapur achieved 70%.

The counting process began amid controversy. Both Shiv Sena(UBT) chief Uddhav and MNS president Raj Thackeray have claimed that “indelible” marker pens were employed instead of traditional ink, alleging that they could easily be erased to permit fraudulent voting.

The SEC has refuted these allegations, asserting that the ink requires time to dry. In response to a dispute over the removal of indelible ink, the SEC has initiated an investigation.

While elections were initially slated for 2,869 seats, including 227 in the BMC, they were conducted for 2,801 seats as 68 candidates were elected unopposed.

A total of 3.48 crore voters determined the fate of 15,931 candidates, with 1,729 contesting in Mumbai.

The areas contested included Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Kalyan-Dombivli, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Mumbai, Solapur, Amravati, Akola, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Ulhasnagar, Thane, Chandrapur, Parbhani, Mira-Bhayandar, Nanded-Waghala, Panvel, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Latur, Malegaon, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Jalgaon, Ahilyanagar, Dhule, Jalna, and Ichalkaranji.

The success of the BJP-led Mahayuti in the BMC and other corporations is vital for the establishment of a triple-engine rule in civic bodies. Conversely, the Thackeray brothers will confront an existential challenge in maintaining their unity moving forward.