BMC Elections 2022: The MVA government has been dealt a setback after the Supreme Court ordered the State Election Commission to provide the poll schedule for local bodies within two weeks

On Wednesday, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government was dealt a huge setback when the Supreme Court ordered the State Election Commission (SEC) to provide the calendar for local body elections, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), within two weeks. The Supreme Court has also stated that it will decide on the question of quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in elections after the polls are completed.

 

The SEC had filed an affidavit with the Supreme Court claiming that the time needed to prepare for the elections will be extended until June. However, at that time, the monsoon would have begun, and elections are not held during this time due to logistical concerns. The EC has stressed that the announcement of a poll schedule does not imply that elections for 20 municipal corporations and other local bodies will be placed right away.

 

"The SEC will relaunch the procedure that came to a halt after the changes voted in the State Assembly on March 11," an SEC official told after reading the SC order. Hearings for the delimitation of wards had been finished in 14 Municipal Corporations, although they were still being finalised. The process of delimitation of wards has yet to begin in six Municipal Corporations." Furthermore, he stated that the District Collectors had requested ideas and objections in the case of 210 Nagar Palikas, and that the recommendations had been approved, but that the delimitation procedure had not yet been completed.

 

He also stated that while the draught for Gram Panchayats had been released, the SEC had yet to release a programme for Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis delimitation. "After that, the SEC will complete the seat reservation" (for SC and ST excluding OBC). The SEC has previously told the Supreme Court that such an internal exercise will be conducted, although polling will be impossible during the monsoon season," he said.

 

According to the person, the SC has given the SEC permission to contact it in the event of an issue. Uddhav Thackeray, the Chief Minister, has called a conference of OBC ministers, leaders, and officers for 1 p.m. on Thursday to deliberate strategy in the aftermath of the SC judgement.

 

During the budget session, the legislature enacted two bills giving the state government authority over ward delimitation and poll schedule. The administration had requested a delay until December to hold the elections, but the court has ordered the SEC to announce a poll schedule in two weeks.

 

 

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