Mumbai BMC Election 2026: The 'PADU' Bombshell & Thackeray Reunion

MUMBAI — Just when the city thought the political drama had peaked with the historic reunion of Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, a late-night directive from the Election Commission has thrown the entire BMC Election 2026 into chaos. While official campaigning halted on January 13, the silence has been shattered by a massive controversy that has the opposition crying foul.

The 'PADU' Controversy: Backup or Setup?

In a move that has stunned political pundits, the Election Commission announced the introduction of a new device: the PADU (Printing Auxiliary Display Unit). The Commission states that because the EVMs being used are "older generation," the PADU will act as a fail-safe to print recorded votes.

Raj Thackeray "Why was this hidden from us? What is this 'magic printer' that appears one day before voting? Is this a backup plan for the BJP to steal the mandate?"

The timing is explosive. The device was never shown to political parties during pre-election checks. The opposition has labeled it a "Black Box of Fraud," electrifying the Marathi vote bank which views the move with deep skepticism.

The Door-to-Door Waiver

Usually, the 48 hours before voting are strictly monitored. However, the EC has explicitly permitted door-to-door campaigning to continue if groups contain fewer than five members. This "waiver" has turned the night into a sleepless one for Mumbai, with thousands of squads fanning out into chawls and high-rises to ensure the "Marathi Pride" vote turns out in force.