Local Elections on Hold till July 2025, SC Sets Next Hearing for May 6

Report by The Newsage Pune.

Local Elections to be Held in September-October

The long-called municipal elections in Maharashtra have been delayed once again, with the Supreme Court setting the next hearing for May 6. Elections for 23 municipal corporations, including Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, remain on hold due to ongoing legal disputes over ward structures and OBC reservations.

The Maharashtra municipal elections have been delayed yet again, and the next hearing has been scheduled on 6th May 2025 by the Supreme Court. This delay is a result of legal disputes over ward structures and OBC reservations. Further delay is expected due to Holi recess, and elections are anticipated to take place during the months of September-October.

A total of 57 petitions have been filed, challenging issues such as the new ward composition and the 27% OBC reservation. While all parties agree on holding elections, disagreements persist over whether to follow the 2017 ward system or the revised four-member ward structure introduced by the current government.

With the court's Holi recess from March 9 to 16, further delays are expected. Given the procedural requirements for ward formation and objections, experts anticipate that local elections may now be held only in September-October, further extending the wait for elected governance.