**Maharashtra Government Initiates Long-Awaited Municipal Elections**
The Maharashtra government has officially commenced the long-overdue election process for 29 municipal corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), by starting the drafting of ward boundaries. This significant step includes major cities such as Pune, Nagpur, Thane, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Kalyan-Dombivli.
The Urban Development (UD) department has instructed Municipal Commissioners to prepare drafts for ward boundaries, which will subsequently be submitted to the State Election Commission (SEC) for approval. As part of this process, municipal bodies are required to solicit suggestions and objections from the public and conduct hearings before finalizing the boundaries.
The order emphasizes that ward boundaries must be established strictly according to the latest census data, clarifying that the number of voters or current residents in an area should not influence the boundary determinations.
This initiative follows a directive from the Supreme Court last month, where Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh mandated the Maharashtra state election authority to announce elections for all pending local self-government bodies within four weeks and to complete the electoral process within four months. The court also reinstated the Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation in local bodies to its pre-2022 structure, responding to petitions that highlighted the urgent need for elections that had been delayed for over two years. The bench stressed that “democratic functioning cannot be held hostage to procedural delays.”
In reference to the Supreme Court’s order dated May 6, 2025, the Urban Development department noted the necessity of conducting elections for local bodies immediately, stating that the elections would be subject to the court’s decision. The department outlined that the election process for municipal corporations involves three stages: the formation of wards, determination of reservations, and the division of the Assembly electoral roll on a ward-wise basis.
Given the time required to complete these various stages and in light of the Supreme Court’s directives, the UD department has deemed it essential to initiate the election process without delay. The BMC, recognized as India’s wealthiest civic body, will maintain its traditional single-member ward system, comprising a total of 227 wards. The BMC Commissioner will oversee the ward formation process in Mumbai, while responsibilities in other cities will be assigned based on municipal body classifications.
**FAQ**
**Q: Why are the municipal elections in Maharashtra significant?**
A: The municipal elections are crucial for restoring democratic governance in local bodies that have faced delays for over two years, ensuring representation and accountability at the local level.
