The upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra, specifically for zilla parishads, are likely to be postponed, as confirmed by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. This potential delay stems from an ongoing legal battle concerning the reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), which is scheduled for a crucial hearing in the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Hearing and Its Immediate Impact
The Supreme Court is set to hear the petition challenging the 27 per cent OBC reservation in local body polls on November 25. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan, and N Kotiswar Singh will preside over the matter. Last week, the court had advised the Maharashtra government to consider deferring the nomination process for these elections until the reservation issue is legally resolved.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the state, requested time to submit additional documents related to the dispute. Meanwhile, Advocate Amol Karande, for the parties opposing the quota, argued that allowing the nomination process to continue would make the election process irreversible. Justice Kant acknowledged this concern and scheduled the matter for a hearing on November 25.
Current Election Schedule and Pending Polls
While the uncertainty looms over zilla parishads, the electoral process for other local bodies is moving forward. The elections for 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats are currently on track. Voting for these is scheduled for December 2, with the counting of votes to be held on December 3. The preliminary stages of nomination, scrutiny, and withdrawal have already been completed for these seats.
However, the State Election Commission (SEC) has not yet announced the election schedule for a significant number of other local bodies. This includes polls for 29 municipal corporations, 32 zilla parishads, and 336 panchayat samitis, which are all overdue.
A Long-Standing Political Stalemate
The issue of OBC reservation in local body elections has been a major point of contention in Maharashtra's political landscape for the past five years, leading to a prolonged delay in conducting these crucial polls. The Supreme Court's intervention and the upcoming hearing on November 25 are now pivotal moments that will determine the immediate future of grassroots democracy in the state. The final decision will have significant ramifications for the political representation of OBC communities and the administration of local governance.
