State starts preparations for local polls; SC ruling crucial

The state government has directed more than 24 municipal corporations to start formation of electoral wards as per their 2017 status, thus beginning the process for the local body elections

The state government has directed more than 24 municipal corporations to start formation of electoral wards as per their 2017 status, thus beginning the process for the local body elections. Considering that it will take at least three months to complete the process, the polls are expected to be held by February-end or in March.

Navi Mumbai, India - Sept. 25, 2022:Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis and CM Eknath Shinde , During s Late Mathadi Leader Annasaheb Patil on his 89th Birth Anniversary celebration held at Kanda Batata Market,APMC Vashi in Navi Mumbai, India, on Sunday, September 25, 2022. (Photo by Bachchan Kumar/ HT PHOTO) (HT PHOTO)

It is important to note that the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on November 28 a clutch of petitions challenging the poll-related amendments brought in by the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis cabinet. And a ruling in the petitioners’ favour will force the government to start everything afresh.

On Tuesday, an order issued by the urban development department (UDD) asked the corporations to follow the 2011 census, which is in accordance with the government’s decision in August to go back to the 2017 status of wards. The state has scrapped the Uddhav Thackeray-led government’s decision to increase the number of wards to 236 from 227 on the basis of the projected rise in population.

“The ward boundaries in most of the municipal corporations will remain the same as the base is the 2011 census. However, in civic bodies like Pune, Vasai-Virar, and Kalyan-Dombivali there have been additions or deletions of villages in the last few years. Except these, others can use their 2017 status and complete the process in the next three months. In that case, the polls could be held by February-end or in March,” an official from UDD said.

An official from the state election commission said the government has started the process within its power to form electoral wards. The court and the poll panel will be apprised of the government decision on the process in the due course, he said.

The elections to these municipal corporations were delayed after the OBC quota was scrapped by the SC for the want of empirical data. The quota has been restored now.

About 10 local bodies, including Mumbai, have been ruled by administrators since March, while five are under the administrator for more than one year.