Seven days for nominations, one day for inspection, one day for revocation of nominations, and one day for symbol allotment will indeed be required by the collectors

In a twist to the current court struggle over the OBC quota in local governments, the State Election Commission (SEC) has been directed to hold polls in 106 Nagar Panchayats, Bhandara and Gondia Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis under their authority on December 21, as per schedule. However, instead of December 22, 2021, the vote will be counted on January 19, 2022. On Friday, the SEC issued a new notification, stating that OBC seats in these local bodies will be de-reserved and will instead become open/general seats, with 50 percent reserved for women.

"On December 21, polling will be held for 82 seats in Bhandara and Gondia Zilla Parishads, 165 seats in 15 Panchayat Samitis under their authority, and 1458 seats in 106 Nagar Panchayats," SEC sources said on Thursday. There was no way to stop it. Even though the Supreme Court has given the SEC a week, a notification for the poll timetable for OBC seats that will now be de-reserved in these local governments will be released on Friday. SEC has the authority to reserve 50 percent of seats for women under numerous laws, including the Gram Panchayat Act, the Zilla Parishad Act, and the Municipal Corporation Act, as well as Articles 243 (A) and 243 (ZA)."

Seven days for nominations, one day for inspection, one day for withdrawal of nominations, and one day for symbol allotment will be required by the collectors. The District Courts in Bhandara and Gondia have jurisdiction over nominations appeals. The election will take place in mid-January. Meanwhile, the SEC has yet to receive the state government's response to the cabinet's decision on Wednesday to postpone local body elections until empirical OBC data is obtained for quota purposes. The government has pushed for a three-month postponement of impending municipal elections, which include the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Municipalities, Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, and Nagar Panchayats.

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