Pune: PMC Election Reservation Lottery Rules Announced, Candidates Await Date
Pune, 25th October 2025: The State Election Commission (SEC) has announced the rules for the reservation lottery following the finalization of the ward structure for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). However, the date for the lottery is yet to be announced.
The PMC elections are expected to be held in January 2026. Ahead of the polls, authorities have begun preparing voter lists ward-wise and polling station-wise. Once the ward structure is finalized, the reservation of wards for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) is determined through a lottery system.
The reservation lottery plays a crucial role in shaping the electoral landscape. It determines which candidates can contest from which wards and whether a male or female family member will be eligible to contest. Consequently, the lottery is closely watched by aspiring candidates.
The ward structure for Pune was finalized just before Diwali, and the reservation lottery was expected to follow immediately. However, the SEC has now indicated that the lottery will be held after the festival. While the rules for conducting the reservation lottery have been issued, the SEC has not yet specified the exact date.
Interested candidates will therefore have to wait a few more days before the lottery clarifies the reserved wards and potential contestants for the upcoming PMC elections.
