In a major push for on-ground journalism, CNN-News18 has launched its flagship election property, ‘Ballot Maximum City,’ to cover the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. With Mumbai set to vote on January 15, 2026, after an eight-year hiatus, the network has deployed its premier anchors and reporters to decode the high-stakes battle for India’s wealthiest civic body. The initiative aims to provide an issue-based narrative that prioritizes the concerns of the common Mumbaikar over mere political soundbites.

The ‘Ballot Maximum City’ slate features a variety of segments designed to offer deep insights into the electoral landscape. A central feature is the ‘Reporters Project,’ a docu-series that explores the city ward-by-ward to capture grassroots voter sentiment. The programming also includes short, incisive segments following top leaders on the campaign trail, featuring exclusive interactions with figures like Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, Aaditya Thackeray, Varun Sardesai, and Praful Patel.

To add local flavor, the series ‘Mumbai Local’ features a walk-and-talk format with prominent Mumbaikars such as Shobha De, Milind Deora, Priya Dutt, Vivek Agnihotri, and Malhar Kamble. These conversations provide a historical and social context to the city’s civic evolution. Furthermore, the coverage delves into the shifting political alliances, notably exploring the potential impact of the Uddhav–Raj Thackeray reunion on the final mandate.

The network’s coverage will peak with ‘Mumbai 60,’ a one-hour live special on January 14 at 5:00 PM, focusing on last-minute ward-level developments. On Polling Day (January 15), CNN-News18 will provide continuous live updates from booths across the city, followed by comprehensive Counting Day coverage on January 16 starting at 7:00 AM.

Rahul Shivshankar, Editorial Affairs Director at CNN-News18, noted that the focus remains firmly on the voter pulse, while Smriti Mehra, CEO of English & Business News, emphasized the channel’s commitment to providing a credible platform that looks beyond the headlines to the future of Mumbai’s urban governance.

Key Highlights:

• Comprehensive Coverage: CNN-News18 launches ‘Ballot Maximum City’ to cover the BMC elections on January 15, 2026, after an 8-year delay.
• Voter-Centric Content: The ‘Reporters Project’ and ‘Mumbai Local’ series focus on ward-level issues and insights from prominent city voices.
• High-Stakes Politics: The programming tracks top leaders and analyzes the impact of the Thackeray family reunion on the electoral outcome.
• Live Schedule: Extensive live reporting planned for Polling Day (Jan 15) and Counting Day (Jan 16), starting from 7:00 AM.