The announcement of civic body elections by the State Election Commission has officially set the political wheels in motion across several key cities in Maharashtra. While the move has ended prolonged periods of administrative rule and sparked enthusiasm among political parties and aspirants, it has also been met with legal scrutiny in at least one major district.
Amravati's Long Wait Ends, BJP Takes Early Lead
In Amravati, the declaration has concluded an extensive wait of over two years for elections to the Amravati Municipal Corporation (AMC), which has been functioning without an elected body. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), riding high, has swiftly begun the process of interviewing potential candidates. The party is working to finalize its list for all 87 seats across 22 prabhags in the city.
In contrast, the local Congress leadership appears to be in a earlier phase, currently focused on mobilizing workers and inviting applications. The electoral arithmetic in Amravati is particularly significant. Out of the 22 prabhags, 21 will elect four corporators each, making 84 seats, while the SRPF Wadali prabhag will elect three, bringing the total to 87.
The previous AMC election saw the BJP emerge as the single-largest party with 45 seats. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) made a notable entry by securing 10 seats, while the Congress was reduced to 15. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) failed to win any seats. This time, triangular contests are anticipated in several prabhags, with the BJP, Congress, and NCP all vying for influence.
Akola's Competitive Landscape and Chandrapur's Legal Challenge
In Akola, after nearly four years under administrative rule, more than 5.5 lakh voters are set to elect 80 corporators from 20 wards. The BJP, which previously controlled 48 of the 80 seats, now faces a more fragmented and competitive political field. This is due to the splits within the Shiv Sena and the NCP, coupled with the continued influence of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). The finalization of seat reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) is expected to be a critical factor in shaping party strategies and candidate selection.
Meanwhile, a cloud of legal uncertainty hangs over the process in Chandrapur. Former corporator and Jan Vikas Sena president, Pappu Deshmukh, has publicly questioned the legality of the election program announced for the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation. Deshmukh has alleged that the State Election Commission declared the poll schedule without first completing the mandatory ward-wise reservation process.
He claims that although objections to the draft reservation list were invited between November 17 and November 24, 2025, no subsequent hearings were conducted, and the final reservation notification was never officially published. Deshmukh further pointed out a major alleged irregularity: the draft reservations in Chandrapur exceeded the constitutional 50% ceiling by approximately 3%, a matter that could potentially invite judicial scrutiny.
Political Momentum Meets Procedural Hurdles
The announcement has undoubtedly energized political machinery across the state. For parties like the BJP, it is an opportunity to consolidate power in urban local bodies, while for others, it's a chance to regain lost ground or make new inroads. However, the challenge raised in Chandrapur underscores the complex interplay between political eagerness and procedural adherence.
If the allegations regarding the reservation process hold, they could delay the polls in Chandrapur or lead to legal battles, setting a precedent for how such processes are conducted. As candidates are interviewed and slates are finalized in Amravati and Akola, all eyes will also be on the election commission's response to the serious questions posed in Chandrapur, which touch upon the very foundation of fair representation.
