As counting of votes continues for the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation elections, Congress leader and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi has voiced sharp criticism of the Election Commission, claiming that public trust in India’s democratic process is eroding. Speaking on social media platform X, Gandhi said, “Election commission gaslighting citizens is how trust has collapsed in our democracy. Vote Chori is an anti-national act.” His comments have sparked heated political debate, coming at a time when the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance appears to be leading across multiple key municipal bodies.

Early trends from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) counting indicate the BJP-Shiv Sena Mahayuti alliance leading in 52 wards. According to initial postal ballot data, the BJP is ahead in 35 seats and Shiv Sena in 17. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT), led by the Thackeray brothers, is showing leads in 22 wards, while Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) holds 8 leads. Congress has secured 4 leads in the early count. Official figures from the State Election Commission (SEC) and BMC are still awaited.

The recently concluded BMC elections recorded a voter turnout of 52.94 per cent, with 54,76,043 of 1,03,44,315 registered voters casting their votes. Among them, 29,23,433 were men, 25,52,359 women, and 251 transgender electors. This election, conducted after an eight-year gap, marks a major civic exercise in Mumbai, India’s richest municipal corporation.