Elections: 45 Seats Reserved for OBCs in Pune Municipal Corporation

Pune, 7th May 2025: With the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections expected within the next four months, 27% of the total 166 seats have been reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). A total of 45 seats will be allocated to OBC candidates, 22 seats to Scheduled Castes (SCs), and 2 to Scheduled Tribes (STs), while 97 seats will remain in the general category.

This reservation pattern has changed from the 2017 municipal elections due to the inclusion of 32 newly merged villages in the PMC limits.
Municipal elections were not held in 2022, and since then, the PMC has been governed by the municipal commissioner. During the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government’s tenure, the number of corporators was increased across several municipal bodies, including Mumbai. This move sparked legal challenges, particularly regarding the OBC reservation.

Earlier, the Banthia Commission recommended reducing OBC representation by around 34,000 seats across Maharashtra, triggering a major political uproar. However, the current Mahayuti government reiterated its commitment to protecting OBC representation in proportion to the population. The matter became a key political issue, with all major parties asserting that no local body elections should be held without restoring OBC reservation.

The Supreme Court has now upheld the OBC reservation policy in effect between 1994 and 2022, thereby validating the 27% quota for OBCs.

Half the Seats Reserved for Women
In accordance with the rule reserving 50% of seats in local bodies for women, a total of 83 out of 166 seats will be allocated to female candidates. This includes:
23 seats from the OBC category
22 from the SC category
1 from the ST category
37 from the general category
Strategic Moves to Secure Candidature
In light of the reservation system, many political aspirants from the Maratha community are reportedly obtaining Kunbi caste certificates to qualify under the OBC category. If a seat is unavailable in the open category, candidates may contest under the OBC quota.

Additionally, in constituencies where male candidates do not find an opportunity due to women’s reservation, political families are planning to field female relatives—including wives, mothers, sisters, or daughters-in-law—to retain influence and secure seats.

Reservation Breakdown in PMC:
Total seats: 166
OBC: 45
Scheduled Castes (SC): 22
Scheduled Tribes (ST): 2
General category: 97
Seats reserved for women: 83