Mumbai: (Press release)The Aam Aadmi Party today announced its decision to contest the upcoming BMC General Elections 2026, on its own strength. The youngest national party, ruled out any possibility of an alliance and stated that they will field AAP candidates on all 227 wards.

“Despite being India’s ‘Urbs Prima’, Mumbai is in a mess. BMC has a whopping Rs. 74,447 Crore annual budget- the largest in Asia. Mumbaikars pay the highest taxes in the country and yet get shoddy public services.

The BMC is a cesspool of corruption and monumental ineptitude. BMC schools are shutting down and education quality remains poor, primary health care centres are non-existent, hospitals are overburdened and BEST is being systematically killed and it’s bus fleet has been starkly declining.Some of the world’s most expensive real estate is surrounded by squalor.

Garbage disposal is poor and filth is lying all around and our ecology has degraded with tree cover rapidly depleting. Pollution is at an all time high, Our AQI levels are as high as Delhi, despite us being on the coast and we are the only city in the world which releases untreated sewage in the open sea.

In the name of Dharavi Redevelopment, we are witnessing the biggest land grab in the history of independent India. For the last 4 years, the BMC has been without public representation and our once 90,000 Crore Fixed Deposits, have fallen sharply and reached its nadir.

All of this is nothing but ‘avoidable suffering’ inflicted on Mumbaikars, by a lumpen political class. Every political party has looted Mumbai, prioritising their selfish interests over public good. “, said Preeti Sharma Menon, Mumbai President, Aam Aadmi Party.

“The AAP is not just the alternative but the solution. Few good people in the BMC, is what Mumbai desperately needs. We know how to fix governance, under Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann’s leadership, we have done so in Delhi and Punjab, provided world class education, healthcare, water and electricity, without corruption and without debt.

We need the broom, to sweep the corrupt and inept away. With just 7 corporators, AAP will have a house leader and representation on all statutory committees (Standing, Improvement, Health, Education and BEST). When we last contested in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, we got 5.16% of the vote share and over 2,73,000 votes. We will better this feat this time round and are getting tremendous support on the ground.

Mumbai needs AAP. We are India’s youngest National party and will contest on all of Mumbai’s 227 seats on our own strength.”, said Sanjay Singh, MP, Aam Aadmi Party.

Mumbai: Advocate Vivekanand Gupta, a secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Mumbai unit, has flagged concerns over alleged nepotism in ticket distribution ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, urging the party leadership to ensure that the civic polls do not turn into a ‘family business.’ The letter comes amid an internal unease that is brewing within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

In his letter, Gupta expressed strong reservations about the practice of issuing civic election tickets to family members of party office bearers, MLAs, and other public representatives. He pointed out that relatives such as wives, sons, daughters, and even grandchildren of influential leaders are often favoured during ticket distribution, sidelining grassroots workers who have served the party for years.

Gupta stressed that candidates for the BMC polls should be selected purely on merit and dedication, and not on the basis of family connections. He argued that the BJP, which prides itself on being a cadre-based organisation, must give priority to loyal karyakartas who have worked consistently at the ground level and contributed to the party’s growth in Mumbai.

The BJP leader also flagged concerns over the alleged misuse of changes in seat reservations. According to Gupta, when wards are converted from general seats to women, OBC, or other reserved categories, the opportunity is often used to accommodate family members of influential leaders rather than deserving party workers. He warned that such practices demoralise long-serving workers who patiently wait for a fair chance to contest elections.

Emphasising that the BJP has been built by the dedication and sacrifices of its workers, Gupta urged the party leadership to resist internal pressure while finalising candidates. He called for transparency, fairness, and a clear commitment to merit-based ticket allocation, adding that loyalty and hard work should be the sole criteria for contesting the civic polls.

Meanwhile, BJP Mumbai president Ameet Satam announced that the party will release its manifesto for the BMC elections in the first week of January 2026. However, it is yet to be decided whether the BJP will unveil a joint manifesto with its ally Shiv Sena. Voting for the much-anticipated BMC elections is scheduled to take place on January 15, with counting of votes slated for January 16.

Mumbai Municipal Corporation Mumbai Municipal Corporation has directed the Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani to ensure strict implementation of the code of conduct during the elections and to ensure the process.

The Returning Officer should take necessary precautions to ensure that the general elections of the Municipal Corporation are held in a fearless, free and transparent environment. Before preparing the final list of polling stations, a live inspection of the polling stations should be carried out. Officers and employees related to the election process should be appointed within the stipulated time and they should be trained. Municipal Corporation Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani have given various instructions to keep various teams working in connection with the elections. Gagrani has also directed that security measures be taken for effective implementation of the code of conduct by the police, excise and other departments. As per the direct election programme for the Mumbai Municipal Corporation General Elections 2025-26, a joint meeting of the officers of the Municipal Corporation, Returning Officers, Police, Excise Department officers was held at the Municipal Corporation Headquarters. Municipal Corporation Commissioner and District Election Officer Mr. Bhushan Gagrani was also present as Chairman.

Additional Municipal Corporation Commissioner (City) Dr. Ashwini Joshi, Special Duty Officer (Election) Mr. Vijay Balmwar, Joint Commissioner (Tax Assessment and Collection) Mr. Vishwas Shankarwar, Deputy Commissioner (Reforms) Mr. Sanjog Kabre, Deputy Commissioner (General Administration) Mr. Kishore Gandhi, Additional Commissioner (General Administration) Mr. Ambekar Gandhi, Deputy Commissioner (General Administration). Konkan Division Mrs. Farogh Mukadam, District Election Officer Mr. Vijay Kumar Suryavanshi and 23 Election Officers were present.

Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani said that the State Election Commission has fixed the criteria for the determination of election polling stations. According to this, there are about 10 thousand 111 polling stations in the limits of Mumbai Municipal Corporation. Facilities like electricity supply, drinking water supply, toilets, ramps etc. have been provided at these polling stations. The Election Officer will inspect and confirm it. After that, the final list of polling stations should be prepared. A ‘Voter Assistance Centre’ should be set up near the polling station to help voters find their names. He directed that information boards should be put up at polling stations to inform the voters.

The process of appointing officers and employees required for the election process is underway. Training will be given to the officers and employees appointed for election work. Detailed guidance will be given on the voting process, election laws, model code of conduct, EVM handling and responsibilities at the polling station. Training of all employees is mandatory for the success of the election process. The above instructions should be strictly followed. The Returning Officer should contact the Deputy Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation Circle, Assistant Commissioner of Administrative Departments. Gagrani also directed that action should be taken in a coordinated manner.

To ensure effective and strict implementation of the model code of conduct, all necessary precautions should be taken in collaboration with the Police Department, Excise Department and other concerned departments. A strict watch should be kept on the malpractices committed to influence the voters during the election period. Special vigilance should be taken in sensitive and highly sensitive areas to maintain law and order. Regular patrolling, check posts, checking of vehicles and immediate action should be taken on suspicious movements. If any violation of the model code of conduct is found, immediate and strict action should be taken against the concerned as per the rules, Gagrani has directed.