Supreme Court Directs Maharashtra Local Body Polls Under 2017 Ward Structure, Maintains 27% OBC Reservation
MUMBAI: In a significant Supreme Court verdict announced on Monday, the State Election Commission (SEC) has been directed to conduct local body elections in Maharashtra based on the 2017 ward structure while preserving the existing OBC reservation of 27%. This paves the way for polls to commence as early as November 2025, aligning with the state government’s finalized ward reorganization plans.
The apex court’s decision, passed during its hearing of a petition by a former chairperson of the Ausa municipal council in Latur district, addresses three critical electoral Mahayuti alliance demands: retaining the 2017 ward structure, maintaining seat counts, and preserving the 27% OBC quota. According to SEC projections, maintaining the 27% reservation could safeguard over 33,834 seats that would have been reduced under the Banthia Commission report submitted in July 2022.
Previously, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government had attempted to revise local body wards and expand seat numbers to accommodate population growth. However, the Mahayuti administration led by Eknath Shinde retained ward-creation powers but rolled back MVA’s seat expansion move.
“This SC verdict validates the Mahayuti’s stance and preserves fair OBC representation,” emphasized a BJP leader. “The Banthia Commission’s proposal to dilute reservations in key areas would have marginalized OBC communities, who played a pivotal role in our assembly election success. This ruling ensures continuity for Maharashtra local body elections later this year.”
The leader also highlighted how MVA had manipulated ward boundaries in major municipal corporations like Mumbai (227 to 236 wards) and Thane for political gains. “The Supreme Court has neutralized these unfair adjustments, restoring electoral fairness,” he added.
The SEC confirmed adherence to its poll schedule post-ruling. An official stated, “Ward division for district councils will be finalized by , while municipal corporations and councils will complete ward structuring by and . Voter list finalization and reservation allocations—crucial local body election timeline milestones—will proceed concurrently, wrapping by October’s end.”
“With Diwali falling in late October , the first round of district council elections is anticipated mid-November,” the SEC official mentioned, underscoring the ruling’s role in keeping authority over electoral roll preparations with the commission.
Chhagan Bhujbal, Maharashtra’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister and NCP’s prominent OBC representative, hailed the judgment: “The 27% reservation, in place since 1993, now remains secure. The Banthia Commission’s suggested tiered quotas (10-15%) were concerning, but this ruling reaffirms balanced OBC representation,” he stated in a video comment to Prime News Network.
