SC paves way for local body polls, but questions remain

The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the path for elections to 687 urban and rural local bodies in Maharashtra, some of which haven't had any elected representatives for over five years and are ruled by state government-appointed administrators due to ongoing litigation over reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and delimitation exercises.

- HT Correspondent

MUMBAI:

A bench of justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh asked the state election commission (SEC) to notify the elections in four weeks and hold them within four months, while allowing the SEC to seek more time in appropriate cases.

It also stated that reservation for OBC candidates in the elections will be as it existed before the submission of the JK Banthia Commission report in 2022—a flat 27% quota. The commission had recommended a quota up to 27% for OBCs.

According to SEC officials, the Supreme Court's order has brought clarity on when to hold the polls, although ambiguities remain on the way to conduct them. "It is for sure that the elections will be conducted in October-November, but questions remain on the process to be followed related to the formation of wards, reservation, etc. It will be clear once the court uploads the order online, and we expect it to be done by late night," said a senior official from the SEC who requested anonymity as they aren't authorised to speak to the media.

If the Supreme Court says that ward formation will be similar to how it was before 2022, only one month would be required, the officer said. The ward formation and reservation process can be conducted simultaneously. The SEC has to invite suggestions and objections from stakeholders, followed by the publication of the electoral rolls based on the ward formation. This entire process can be completed in three and a half months, the official added.

"We, however, are expecting clarity on whether the OBC quota directives are restricted to 96 local bodies whose elections were stayed or to all bodies. Similarly, it is unclear how many wards are to be considered—the number decided by the Uddhav Thackeray government or the subsequent Eknath Shinde government," said another SEC official.