SC Verdict Maharashtra Elections has opened the way for long-pending civic polls across the state. The Supreme Court on Friday allowed elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and 28 other municipal corporations. The court said that all local body elections must finish before January 31, 2026, which is the deadline it set earlier.
The bench made its stance clear on one key issue. It told the State Election Commission (SEC) to respect the 50% reservation cap in regions where the limit has not been crossed. The judges stressed that the cap cannot be violated under any circumstances. They also said that the results of these elections will depend on the final ruling in the ongoing case related to reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Maharashtra has seen a long delay in civic polls. The last BMC election took place in 2017, and the five-year term of the 227 corporators ended in 2022. Since then, India’s richest civic body has been run by an administrator. The Supreme Court’s fresh order now pushes the state to complete the election process without further delay.
The ruling covers major municipal corporations like Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, and Mira Bhayandar. These bodies will also go to polls before the deadline. The SEC is now expected to fast-track ward formation, voter lists, and candidate procedures.
Political parties have already geared up for a tense contest. The BMC election holds special importance because of its large budget and political influence. With the Supreme Court’s firm directions, Maharashtra is finally set to witness long-pending civic elections under strict reservation norms and judicial supervision.
