BMC 2025 Elections: Draw to Decide Reservation of Wards for SC, ST, OBC and Women Set for November 11

by Webdesk
10 Nov 2025

Mumbai: In a significant move ahead of the much-awaited Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the draw to decide the reservation of wards will take place on Tuesday, November 11, at 11 a.m. in Balgandharva Rangmandir, Bandra West.

This lottery process will determine which wards will be earmarked for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Women candidates. The decision is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the political landscape and campaign strategies for all parties eyeing the BMC polls.

Allocation of Reserved Wards

Mumbai comprises 227 electoral wards, each representing a specific civic segment. As per the election regulations, 27% (around 61 wards) will be reserved for OBC candidates, while 17 wards will be set aside for Scheduled Castes and two wards for Scheduled Tribes. Furthermore, 50% of the total seats will be reserved for women, including those under the SC, ST, and OBC categories.

Once the lottery is conducted, the BMC administration will immediately submit the results to the State Election Commission (SEC). The draft reservation list for wards is scheduled to be published on November 14. Following that, citizens will have the opportunity to submit suggestions and objections between November 14 and 20. After reviewing all submissions, the final reservation list will be released on November 28.

Lottery Draw to Be Telecast Live

To ensure transparency, the civic administration has announced that the lottery draw will be broadcast live on BMC’s official YouTube channel (@MyBMCMyMumbai) and Hathway Cable Channel No. 26. Additionally, detailed information about ward boundaries, reservation status, and the process for filing suggestions or objections will be made available on the official BMC website — https://www.mcgm.gov.in.

First Election Under New Reservation Rotation Rules

This upcoming civic election marks the first time the new reservation rotation system will be implemented. The State Urban Development Department (UDD) had issued the revised framework on October 9, titled “BMC – Manner of Allotment and Rotation of Reservation of Seats of Councillors in Wards Rules, 2025.”

According to the new guidelines, wards with the highest population concentrations of SC, ST, OBC, and Women voters will receive priority during the reservation process. The intent behind the updated system is to ensure fair representation for historically marginalized and underrepresented communities.

Political analysts believe that the state government’s decision to modify the reservation framework carries strong political implications. It could potentially redraw the civic political map of Mumbai, impacting traditional power equations. Parties with strong community-based support — such as those dominant in OBC or SC/ST constituencies — might gain an upper hand in certain wards where their voter base is already concentrated.

Political and Electoral Impact

This reservation lottery is expected to influence candidate selection, coalition talks, and campaign planning for every major political outfit — including the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Each party will be watching the draw closely to recalibrate its election strategy based on which wards fall under reserved categories.

The process will not only decide the fate of aspiring corporators but will also set the stage for one of the most fiercely contested municipal elections in Mumbai’s history.

BMC Elections Likely in Mid-January 2026

After several delays, the BMC elections are now expected to be conducted in mid-January 2026, alongside 28 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra. The previous election was held in February 2017, and the corporators’ five-year term officially ended in 2022. Since then, the BMC — India’s richest civic body — has been under administrative rule.

Recently, the State Election Commission (SEC) announced the schedule for municipal council and nagar panchayat elections, which are slated for December 2, 2025. As per the Supreme Court directive, the SEC must complete all local body elections across Maharashtra by January 31, 2026. However, the official election dates for the 29 municipal corporations, including Mumbai, are still awaited.

What Lies Ahead

With the reservation draw scheduled for November 11, political activity in Mumbai is expected to gain momentum. Once the draft list is released, political parties will begin intensive groundwork, identifying strong candidates based on ward classifications.

Observers believe the lottery results could significantly alter existing political equations and lead to new alliances or rivalries. As the countdown to the BMC polls begins, the focus shifts to Bandra West, where the lottery event will determine not just the reservation list — but possibly, the balance of power in Mumbai’s civic politics.

Image Courtesy:

02 Jan 2026

BMC Elections

BMC 2025 Elections: Draw to Decide Reservation of Wards for SC, ST, OBC and Women Set for November 11

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