BMC election 2026 LIVE: SEC bars advance 'Ladki Bahin' payment after Opposition flags code violation

BMC elections 2026 unrecorded updates: As pitches rear for the upcoming civic personify polls in Maharashtra, government minister Girish Mahajan kicked up a row after he claimed that financial financial assistance for December and January under the Ladki Bahin Yojana would be disbursed before Makar Sankranti. The Opposition reacted to this, alleging the move violates the Model Code of Conduct.The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has now barred government from releasing the January instalment of the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme in advance, citing the enforcement of the model code of conduct for municipal elections, news agency PTI reported.The SEC's clarification came after it received several complaints following media reports claiming that beneficiaries of the scheme would receive ₹3,000- covering the December and January instalments- in their bank accounts before January 14 as a Makar Sankranti gift. BJP leader and minister Gitish Mahajan had claimed eligible beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin scheme will receive a combined transfer of ₹3,000 for December and January in their bank accounts before Makar Sankranti.Political parties are gearing up for the upcoming January 15 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. Across party lines, efforts are being made to cater to the ‘Marathi Manoos’. From war of words between allies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar to Opposition's play against ‘Hindi imposition’, campaigns for the high-stakes civic polls are witnessing several heated battles.In its poll manifesto released on Sunday, the ruling Mahayuti, comprising the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, promised to “bring back the Marathi manoos” exiled to the outskirts of Mumbai and strengthen Marathi culture.Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who has joined hands with once estranged cousin Uddhav Thackeray for the upcoming polls, also called for Marathi unity and warned against “Hindi imposition”. He termed the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls as a "decisive" election for the Marathi community, urging voters to unite for Maharashtra.Not just BMC, elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra will take place on January 15, with results scheduled for the next day. Here are latest updates:Row over Tamil Nadu BJP leader's remarks: K Annamalai of BJP's Tamil Nadu unit set of a political slugfest after he remarked that Mumbai is not a Maharashtra city, but an international city. The comment did not go well with Shiv Sena (UBT) as leader Aaditya Thackeray said on Monday that Annamalai's statements show his party "only wants to insult and loot" Mumbai and Maharashtra. Raj Thackeray of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) reacted strongly to Annamalai's remark and harked back to a controversial slogan from the 1960s and ’70s of the Shiv Sena founded by Raj Thackeray's uncle and Uddhav's father, the late Bal Thackeray."Hatao lungi bajao pungi," Raj Thackeray said, referencing the clothing of Tamil people and asking locals to oust them. He also twisted Annamalai's name: “One rasmalai came from Tamil Nadu. What is your connection to here?”Mahayuti releases manifesto: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde led the launch of Mahayuti's manifesto on Sunday. Among some key promises in the manifesto are better travel for women on BEST buses, an interest-free loan of ₹50 lakh for female entrepreneurs and an annual 8% water tax freeze for five years. Fadnavis also announced that a tool has been developed to illegal Bangladesh nationals and Rohingyas, and promised that illegal immigrants will be sent back from the state.Raj Thackeray's ‘I’ll kick you' warning: Raj Thackeray issued a warning against what he called “Hindi imposition” and said that while he didn't hate the language, if anyone tried to impose it, he would “kick” them. “People from UP and Bihar should understand that Hindi is not your language. I don't hate the language... But if you try to impose it, I'll kick you. They're coming from all sides to Maharashtra and snatching away your share...,” Thackeray said during an address.Pawars join hands in Pune: The NCP, headed by Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, and the NCP (SP), led by his uncle Sharad Pawar have joined hands for the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic body polls. Even though Ajit Pawar's faction is part of the ruling Mahayuti, it has come together with Sharad Pawar's faction for the January 15 polls.Affordable housing promise: Among several promises made by the Mahayuti in its poll manifesto is affordable housing in Mumbai, a city known of his exorbitant housing cost. Eknath Shinde announced the construction of 3.5 million affordable houses in the city by redeveloping chawls, slums and dilapidated buildings in the next five years.