Amidst ongoing speculation and anticipation, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has indicated that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections are likely to be held in October, November, or December. However, the final decision rests with the Election Commission.
The BMC, one of the country's richest civic bodies, has been under administrative rule for over two years, since March 2022. The absence of elected representatives in such a large number of civic bodies has drawn criticism, with many citing it as a hindrance to democracy. The state government has cited technical reasons, including ward delimitation, for the continued delay.
The elections have been delayed for multiple reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic, court cases pertaining to the OBC quota, and the number of electoral wards. The redrawing of wards has also contributed to the delay. The Thackeray government increased BMC seats from 227 to 236 in 2022, triggering a redrawing of wards. However, the Shinde government reversed this decision, which was upheld by the Bombay High Court. Challenges to this reversal remain pending in the Supreme Court.
The state government's timeline suggests that final ward boundaries for Mumbai, Thane, and Pune civic polls must be notified by September 4, following a draft publication between July 22–31 and a public hearing period from August 1–11. The final demarcation of wards will now be completed by October 6, a month later than the previously set September 4 deadline.
Political parties have already begun strategizing and mobilizing their cadre for the upcoming elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has urged party workers to connect with Mumbai families and highlight alleged lapses and corruption during the BJP-led Mahayuti administration since March 2022. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has accused Fadnavis of gearing up for civic polls through corrupt practices. Raut has also alleged that the continued delay is a conspiracy to avoid defeat, and flagged large-scale corruption under administrative governance, claiming that scams worth ₹350 crore have occurred in cities including Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, Pune, and Mira-Bhayandar.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) currently leads the race for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections with 31% support, according to a recent poll. Emphasizing the importance of local bodies elections, Fadnavis has said that having one government at the Centre, state, and local bodies helps in development work as there is uniformity and coordination.
With the BMC elections on the horizon, political activity is expected to intensify in the coming months. The results of these elections will be crucial for shaping the future of Mumbai and its development trajectory.
