Preparations for the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections are in the final stages. On the instructions of the Election Commission, Mumbai Police has banned mobile phones at polling stations and the use of mobile phones is prohibited within a radius of 100 meters. The code of conduct will be applied at polling stations. There will be a complete ban on the use of mobile phones and wireless within 100 meters. In addition, advertising campaigns and advertising of election symbols are also prohibited. Candidates cannot attract voters at polling stations. If anyone is found involved in this process, action will be taken against them. This order has been issued by Mumbai DCP Operation Akbar Pathan on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti.

Amidst the Mumbai election frenzy, Ajit Pawar has suffered a big setback. Ajit Pawar’s electoral math has failed in Pimpri Chinchwad and Pune. Therefore, the question is being raised as to what will actually happen now. Top leaders of Ajit Pawar’s group have left the alliance. The atmosphere in the state has become heated due to the local body elections. As the voting date approaches, the campaign is now in full swing. Big leaders of the state are holding meetings across the state. A good crowd of people is seen in the meetings of these leaders. All the parties in the state are struggling hard to win important municipal corporations like Mumbai, Thane, Nashik. Both the municipal corporations of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad are equally important and the deputy chief minister of the state, Ajit Pawar, has come with great strength. But now Ajit Pawar has suffered the biggest setback. Dada has suffered this severe setback when the campaign has reached its peak. Therefore, the electoral math is about to change in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Ajit Pawar had allied with the RPI (Kharat) group to woo Dalit voters. But now Ajit Pawar has been given a big shock by RPI (Kharat Group) party chief Sachin Kharat. Sachin Kharat has suddenly withdrawn from the local body elections. He has also announced that he will not support any candidate. Ajit Pawar had given Kharat some seats for Dalit voters in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. But now Kharat himself has withdrawn from the elections, which has created a big dilemma for Ajit. Sachin Kharat has announced his stand through a video. Kharat has said in this video that “I have not got any seat with dignity. Therefore, I am withdrawing from the electoral process of the Municipal Corporation elections which are currently going on in Maharashtra. I do not support any party or any candidate under any circumstances,” Kharat has said in this video. So what will Ajit Pawar do now? This is important to watch.

Various flying squads have been constituted to conduct the Mumbai Municipal Corporation General Elections 2025-26 in a transparent and impartial manner and to ensure strict and effective implementation of the Model Code of Conduct. Appropriate and trained manpower has been provided for these teams. All the officers and employees of the flying teams shall discharge their duties honestly, timely and with full responsibility. Constant vigilance should be maintained to ensure that there is no violation of the election code of conduct during the election process and prompt action should be taken against any violation as per the rules, said Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani.

As per the schedule of Municipal General Elections 2025-26 announced by the State Election Commission, Maharashtra, voting will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2026 from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm. Accordingly, the Model Code of Conduct is being implemented in the entire municipal limits. For this, department-wise teams have been set up in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation area. This includes Code of Conduct Squad, Static Surveillance Team, Videography Surveillance Team and Flying Squad Team etc.

Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. Ashwani Joshi said that SST, FST and VST squads have been appointed in connection with the Municipal Corporation general elections. The final picture of the elections has become clear. Therefore, all the forces should be alert to prevent irregularities in the elections. The police and excise department staff should also work together with the returning officer. It is a big responsibility of all of us to conduct the elections peacefully and peacefully. Dr. Ashwani Joshi said that the Municipal Corporation administration is working in coordination with other agencies for this.
Municipal Corporation Commissioner Gagrani said that a code of conduct team is working in every administrative division under the supervision of the Divisional Assistant Commissioner. Citizens can lodge any information or complaint regarding violation of the Model Code of Conduct by directly contacting the Code of Conduct Cell in the concerned Division Office. A fixed surveillance team has been appointed at the check points where illegal transportation of items that may influence or entice voters, money, liquor and weapons may take place.

This team is deployed at a fixed place (check post). The main work of keeping an eye on illegal transportation of cash and liquor, transportation of weapons is being done by the fixed surveillance team. Similarly, flying squads have also been deployed to monitor activities that may influence or entice voters and keep an eye on illegal transportation of money and liquor or other suspicious activities. These teams are patrolling the ward and are acting like the fixed surveillance team. These teams conduct appropriate investigation, take legal action by making seizure if necessary. Further, if any violation of the code of conduct is noticed, it should be reported to the concerned Election Decision Officer and the concerned Police Station. In addition, a videography surveillance team is working at the level of each Election Decision Officer to provide information to the Election Decision Officer without any delay about important events, election campaign rounds, meetings as well as incidents of excessive expenditure and violations of the code of conduct taking place in the constituency.

Instructions have been given to record videos of incidents/rallies, campaign rounds, meetings or incidents violating the code of conduct taking place in the constituency during the code of conduct period and provide information about the same to the head of the code of conduct team and the concerned Election Decision Officer. The team leaders should personally supervise the above tasks, the officers/employees of the assigned team should coordinate with each other and complete the work within the stipulated time. If any negligence or negligence is found in the election work, disciplinary action will be taken as per the provisions of the rules.

Municipal Commissioner Gagrani said that the single window scheme has been implemented to ensure that candidates can obtain all types of permits from different departments easily and on time. Under this scheme, candidates will not need to visit the office of each department separately. The necessary permits of various departments of the Municipal Corporation including Fire Department, Licensing Department, Police Department, Traffic Police and Regional Transport Department are being made available at one place.