Mumbai: Polling began on Tuesday in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the country’s richest civic body, along with nine other municipal corporations in Maharashtra.

The 227 member BMC is the most cash rich corporation in the country with an annual budget of 37,000 crores.

The election assumes significance as the BJP and Shiv Sena have part ways and have decided to get into the fray independently. Former partners Sena and BJP fell apart over the seat-sharing issue with the BJP demanding higher number of seats to contest given its "growing clout" in Mumbai, which Sena considers its bastion.

Polling began at 7.30 AM at 43,160 polling stations spread across the state. Counting of votes will be taken up on February 23.

Meanwhile in Nagpur, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was among the early voters who cast his vote around 7.30 AM at Bharat Mahila Vidhayalaya near the RSS headquarters.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari too exercised his franchise for Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) at Town Hall, Mahal at 9.30 AM.

Speaking to the media after casting his vote, Gadkari appealed to voters to choose deserving and meritorious candidates keeping aside caste, creed and religious considerations.

The minister hoped that this time the voting percentage will go up to 70.He was confident of BJP winning 100 seats in the 122-member NMC, for which 821 candidates are in the fray.