Maharashtra Civic Polls: BJP-led Mahayuti Battles Thackeray Cousins for BMC Control

• Maharashtra is holding high-stakes civic polls on January 15 for 29 municipal corporations, with the BJP-led Mahayuti and Thackeray cousins (Raj and Uddhav) in a fierce contest for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
• Polling will occur from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, with 3.48 crore voters deciding the fate of 15,931 candidates across 2,869 seats in 893 wards.
• The BMC, with an annual budget over Rs 74,400 crore, sees 1,700 candidates vying for 227 seats after a four-year delay; vote counting is on January 16.
• These polls are seen as a "mini-assembly" battle, testing the strength of Shiv Sena and NCP factions, Mahayuti, and Congress.
• Key political developments include the reunion of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, local NCP alliances in Pune/Pimpri Chinchwad, and Congress aligning with VBA in Mumbai.

Why It Matters: Maharashtra's civic polls, especially for the BMC, are a critical test for major political alliances and factions.