BMC polls: How flash mobs and online campaigns are energising voters in Mumbai

Ahead of the BMC Election 2026 the civic administration has rolled out an extensive voter awareness campaign under the Systematic Votersrsquo Education and Electoral Participation SVEEP programme to increase voter turnout and promote informed participationThe initiative is being implemented as per guidelines issued by the Maharashtra State Election Commission SEC on June 12 2025 with a detailed action plan prepared by the BMC and executed through various departments and agenciesVoting for the BMC elections will be held on Thursday January 15 2026 from 730 am to 530 pmAccording to an official statement the SVEEP campaign is being carried out under the leadership of Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani with guidance from Additional Municipal Commissioner City Dr Ashwini JoshiSenior civic officials are overseeing the coordinated implementation of the campaign across MumbaiDr Joshi has appealed to citizens to exercise their voting rights freely without fear or inducement it saidOver 10 million voters to participatePicBMCMumbai has over 1034 million registered voters and the civic body aims to ensure that every voter understands the importance of their vote The campaign focuses on encouraging ethical voting and discouraging inducements under the message that voting is a right not a transaction the statement saidAwareness through digital and public platformsVoter awareness messages are being displayed through digital hoardings approved by the BMC screens at 24 civic facilitation centres Central and Western Railway stations Mumbai Metro services Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus platforms managed by MMRDA and MSRDC and daily voter awareness messages are also being shared on BMCrsquos official social media handles civic officials saidSchools colleges and youth participationMore than one lakh voter pledge letters with the message ldquoI will definitely vote on January 15 2026rdquo have been sent to parents through students of BMCrun schoolsSchools are also conducting essay competitions drawing competitions morning rallies NSS volunteers are organising awareness rallies and street plays to reach young and firsttime voters they saidMessages through sanitation vehicles and housing societiesPicBMCAround 1300 garbage collection vehicles have been fitted with posters and audio announcements promoting votingHousing societies have been roped in through cooperation with the Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies Notices regarding polling date timing and required identity documents are being displayed on society notice boardsSelfie points and public attractionsVoter awareness selfie points have been set up atBMC headquartersGateway of Indiaall 24 ward offices Diamond Garden in ChemburThe SVEEP nodal officers in each ward are also conducting localised activitiesCinema halls radio and public announcementsShort 30second voter awareness films are being screened across 62 cinema halls on 200 screens in Mumbai the official statement saidAwareness messages are also being broadcast throughFM radio channels theatre hallsgovernment offices ST bus stations hotels and restaurantslsquoMy Vote Is Not for Salersquo CampaignBMCrsquos Public Relations Department is running a strong social media campaign under the tagline ldquoMy Vote Not for Salerdquo highlighting ethical voting and the importance of democracyPicBMC Celebrity outreach and flash mobsPublic figures are sharing voter awareness messages through BMCrsquos platformsFlash mobs are being conducted at 25 crowded locations including railway stations malls and beaches to explain the voting process and motivate firsttime votersTraditional street plays still effectiveAlongside modern platforms traditional street plays pathnatya are being used to spread information about thepolling date and timeimportance of voting required documents andhow to check names in the voter listThe civic officials said that the multilayered campaign aims to reach every voter and ensure a high turnout on polling dayGet all BMC Election 2026 updates here Your ward info belowRead more All about BMC ElectionRead more Know Your Ward