Pune: What Will Happen To PMC Elections After Formation Of Shiv Sena-BJP State Government In Maharashtra?

Pune, 5th July 2022: Due to a change in the state government, there is confusion about whether Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections will be held on time or delayed. Many are claiming that the elections will commence on time. However, it is said that the new state government will not commence elections without the OBC reservation.

The process of ward structure, reservation, and ward-wise voter lists has been completed at the order of the Maharashtra State Election Commission and the Government for the elections.

Some questions are being raised about the municipal elections which are as follows:

1. What is the order of the Supreme Court?

The deadline for the municipal corporations in the state has passed along with the administrators over there. Hence, the elections should be held there. Also, for those administrators who are not up to the deadline, the Supreme Court has directed to start the election process of those municipal corporations. Meanwhile, the Pune Municipal Administrator’s deadline is in September.

2. Will the OBC reservation be applicable or not?

Earlier, the court had ordered the ‘triple test’ and census to grant reservation to the Other Backward Class (OBC). Accordingly, the Bathia Commission appointed by the state government has submitted a report. The government has also filed it in court. If the elections are to be held in September, there are three more months and the ‘triple test’ can occur during this time. There is a hearing on this reservation on 12th July. This reservation may be applied to Maharashtra like Madhya Pradesh. However, elections will take place without this reservation if the hearing is delayed. However, elections for this reservation are unlikely to be stopped or postponed.

3. What about the ward structure?

The previous government decided to hold an election in a ward of three members. However, it will take at least three months for the process of creating a new ward design, approving the Commission, filing objections and suggestions on it, and declaring the final ward structure. Until then, the administrators of the municipal corporations will reach up to the deadline. According to the law, administrators cannot be appointed for more than six months. Currently, there is no concrete reason for the government to give the administrators a deadline. Considering all these factors, it is claimed that there is no possibility of a change in the current ward structure.

4. Elections on time or delayed?

Considering all of the above, it is not easy for the state government to postpone the municipal corporation elections. So, they are likely to be held in September. It is also said that, if the Supreme Court’s decision will be in favor of the government for OBC reservation, then these elections might be held at the end of August itself.

Arvind Shinde, Pune City President of Congress, said, “Although the state government has changed, there is no reason for the municipal elections to be postponed. Because all the procedures have been completed as per the order of the Supreme Court. The issue of OBC reservation will be resolved by 12th July, so the elections will be held in September.”

Prashant Jagtap, Pune City President of NCP, added, “The stance of our party is that elections should be held along with the OBC reservation. However, the process has been completed as per the order of the Supreme Court. Therefore, it is expected that this election will be held on time.”

Shiv Sena’s Pune city president Sanjay More, “All the procedures have been completed as per the order of the Supreme Court. Therefore, these elections will take place in time. Also, if the elections are delayed, then the municipal corporations will have to go to court against it.” 

“The State Election Commission has the right to declare the dates of the elections. When the dates will be announced, elections will be held. For the elections, the preparations of our party have been completed”, informed Jagdish Mulik, City President, BJP, Pune.