Mumbai set for mayor polls on January 28: Voting, reservation and selection process explained

MUMBAI: The next Mumbai mayor will be elected through a vote by corporators in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) House, with the candidate securing the highest number of votes declared mayor. The election is expected to be held on January 28, 2026, during a special meeting convened by the municipal administration, civic sources said. The Mayor will be elected through voting by corporators in the house. “Whoever gets the maximum number of votes is declared the Mayor and deputy Mayor,” said an official.While it is not mandatory for the party with the highest number of corporators to secure the Mayor’s post, past trends show that the party with a clear majority usually managed to claim the prestigious position. The last Mayor was Kishori Pednekar of the Shiv Sena, who won the election this time as well. According to sources, the Urban Development Department will hold a lottery next week to decide the reservation category of the mayor’s post—such as general, women or reserved classes. The mayoral election will be held some days after the lottery, placing the election firmly towards the last week of January. How Mumbai mayor is elected The process begins with the Urban Development Department conducting a lottery to decide the reservation of the mayor’s post.

Once the category is announced, eligible corporators file their nominations. The election is then held at a special meeting of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). All elected corporators vote, and the candidate who secures a simple majority—more than half of the House strength—is elected mayor. If no party has a clear majority, alliances and post-poll negotiations become decisive. Given the present political equations in Mumbai, sources said the possibility of shifting loyalties or realignments during the mayoral race cannot be ruled out. Nominated corporators may influence outcome This will be the first mayoral election with 10 nominated corporators in the 227-member elected House, following a March 2023 amendment to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act that doubled the cap from five. With the BJP emerging as the single largest party, it is expected to secure the maximum share of nominated corporators, which could play a crucial role in the mayoral vote. The remaining nominations are likely to be shared among alliance partners and opposition parties. While the party with the highest number of corporators is not automatically entitled to the mayor’s post, past trends show that numerical strength or alliance backing usually determines the outcome.