Maharashtra Local Body Elections Face Uncertainty Over Quota Controversy
Maharashtra's long-delayed local body elections face further uncertainty as the Supreme Court prepares to deliver a crucial verdict on Tuesday regarding the breach of the 50% reservation cap. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar unexpectedly revealed on Sunday that zilla parishad elections could face additional delays due to the ongoing legal battle over reservation limits.
Political Leaders Express Diverging Views
Speaking at a public meeting in Dharashiv, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar indicated that the possibility of zilla parishad elections being postponed cannot be ruled out. "The local body polls should have been held in February 2022. Aspirants have had to wait. Even now there is a question in Supreme Court regarding reservations," Pawar stated, adding that he was merely sharing information provided by legal counsel.
However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis maintained a more cautious stance, emphasizing that it would be inappropriate to comment before the Supreme Court's decision. "The Supreme Court hearing is on Tuesday. Based on the verdict, Election Commission will make a decision," Fadnavis clarified, highlighting the government's wait-and-watch approach.
Widespread Quota Violations Discovered
The election process has been stalled by significant reservation quota breaches across the state. According to sources familiar with the matter, the 50% quota cap has been violated in 157 out of 685 local bodies scheduled for elections, representing approximately 23% of all municipalities facing polls.
The State Election Commission has proposed a bifurcated approach to address this complex situation. They recommend proceeding with elections for 235 municipal councils and nagar panchayats where reservation limits haven't been breached, scheduled for December 2. Meanwhile, polls for the remaining 55 municipal councils and nagar panchayats with quota violations would be postponed pending resolution of the legal issues.
Long History of Election Delays
Local body elections in Maharashtra have faced multiple postponements over recent years. The terms of many local bodies, including the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), expired three years ago. Initial delays were attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by prolonged court battles concerning Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota allocations.
The Supreme Court has set a definitive deadline, ordering that all local body polls must be concluded by January 31, 2026. However, the election process faced another hurdle when the state election commission announced the first phase of polling, prompting fresh petitions highlighting the widespread quota cap violations.
The court has issued a stern warning that it would halt election proceedings for all civic bodies where total reserved seats exceed the 50% threshold. So far, only the first phase of the three-phase election process has been officially announced, covering 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats on December 2. Elections for zilla parishads, panchayat samitis, and municipal corporations remain unannounced as the state awaits the Supreme Court's decisive verdict.
