A slow start to the Maharashtra civic body polls: 7 per cent voter turnout till 9:30 am.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, along with his family, went to cast his vote.

"If people want their desired result to come true in governance, then it is important to cast your vote," he said, urging residents to vote in Maharashtra civic body polls.

Author and actor Twinkle Khanna stepped out to cast her vote in Maharashtra civic body polls. Speaking to the media, Khanna said, "Voting gives a sense of control and a little bit of power over the narrative. I'm voting both out of habit and hope."

An 89-year-old arrives at polling booth in Mumbai's Malabar Hill to cast his vote in Maharashtra civic body polls today.

During the municipal elections campaign, infiltration, Marathi identity, and Hindutva emerged as more prominent issues than civic matters.

The contest is between the Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena-Shinde, and NCP-Ajit Pawar, and the opposition, Maha Vikas Aghadi, consisting of Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress, NCP-Sharad Pawar. Raj Thackeray's MNS is playing the role of "kingmaker" in several seats, fighting alongside his brother Uddhav Thackeray's Sena (UBT).

Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC shows her inked finger after casting her vote at a polling station in Mumbai's Walsingham School for Maharashta civic body polls.

Veteran actor Nana Patekar casts his vote as 29 civic bodies go to polls today in Maharashtra. Patekar travelled all the way from Pune to vote and urged others to do the same.

"I understand that the sign of my existence is to vote, and for this I travelled 3-4 hours (from Pune) and I am returning immediately. So please do vote," he said.

Senior BJP leader and former Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Ram Naik, 92, cast his vote at a polling booth in Goregaon East. For the past 70 years, Ram Naik has consistently been among the first to cast his vote.

Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, brushed away the possibility of aligning with the BJP after the civic elections in Mumbai. "There is no question of that happening. If there is a direct fight between the NCP and BJP, then either they will win or we will win," he had told NDTV in an exclusive interview ahead of the January 15 civic polls.

"We are with Mahayuti in the state. And in the local body elections, we have shown that we want to do this, to solve people's problems," he said, pointing out that the party had controlled the Pune corporation for a decade and has a proven track record. 

When you opt for NOTA, you indirectly promote an unwanted candidate, said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat after casting his vote in Nagpur civic polls.

More than 28,000 police personnel have been deployed across Mumbai to maintain law and order as voting for the city's civic body polls got underway on Thursday, reported news agency PTI.

Police deployment at the polling centres had been done well in advance to ensure a safe and peaceful election process, an official said.

Over 25,000 constables, 3,000 officers, including 10 additional commissioners, 33 deputy commissioners and 84 assistant commissioners of police were posted at various polling centres and important places in the city, he said.

Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar casts his vote at a polling booth in Balshikshan School, Pune, for Maharashtra civic body polls.

"This is the primary duty of every citizen, and therefore, everyone should come and vote for their preferred candidate immediately," said Javadekar after casting his vote.

A look back at the results of the 2017 BMC elections - NDTV's Parmeshwar Bawa takes you through why they make today's polls so tense.

"I would request all the people of Mumbai to come out in large numbers and cast their votes," said actor Akshay Kumar after casting his vote in Mumbai.

RSS Chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat shows his finger after casting his vote for Maharashtra civic body elections.

The election is seen as a chance for the Thackeray brothers, who have reunited in its backdrop after 20 years, to reclaim their heritage as heirs of Bal Thackeray and ensure their political survival. It is also seen as an opportunity for them to claim the prestige of the undivided Shiv Sena, which had run the Mumbai civic body and, as many said, the city, for decades.

Voting begins for Maharashtra civic body polls, high-stakes battle in Mumbai, Pune.

Maharashtra civic body polls will affect financial markets. Both the BSE and the NSE will observe a full trading holiday today, January 15. All segments, including equity, derivatives, commodities, and electronic gold receipts, will remain suspended for the day.

The Maharashtra government has declared January 15 a public holiday in 29 civic bodies going to polls today, including Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and Navi Mumbai, to facilitate smooth voting and boost turnout.

Maharashtra's 29 civic bodies will vote today. 

Voters: 3.48 crore

Seats: 2,869

Candidates: 15,931

Cities and towns going to polls: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Kalyan-Dombivli, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Mumbai, Solapur, Amravati, Akola, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Ulhasnagar, Thane, Chandrapur, Parbhani, Mira-Bhayandar, Nanded-Waghala, Panvel, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Latur, Malegaon, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Jalgaon, Ahilyanagar, Dhule, Jalna and Ichalkaranji.

Polling officials collect election materials ahead of voting in the civic polls in Pune.