The Maharashtra government’s directive on Tuesday to start the election process for 29 municipal corporations across the state will prove to be a gamechanger since futures of many leaders, parties and formations will depend upon the outcome. Expectedly, all eyes are on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) though the civic bodies covered in this process are Pune, Nagpur, Thane, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Kalyan-Dombivli. The local body polls will also cover 257 municipal councils, 26 Zilla Parishad (ZPs) and 289 panchayat samitis. Thus, almost 70 percent of the state population will be directly electing its local representatives. The last local body election was held in Maharashtra in 2018. The terms of most bodies had expired by 2022-23. Administrators have been running them since then.
The state urban development (UD) department has asked these municipal commissioners to begin the process of drawing ward boundary. These drafts will be submitted to the State Election Commission (SEC) for approval. They will be finalized after the municipal bodies invite and respond to the suggestions and objections from people by holding public hearings. Considering these factors, it is obvious that the elections will take place soon after the monsoon is over.
The order has clearly stated that the ward boundaries must be drawn strictly based on the latest census data. The order has also clarified that the number of voters or the current number of residents in any given area cannot be taken into account and it has no relation to the ward boundaries.
Despite persistent demands from the people and political parties to hold the elections since the local bodies have been under administrators (municipal commissioners) for a long time. The Supreme Court while considering a petition instructed the Maharashtra SEC to declare elections to all local self-government bodies where election was pending to do so within four weeks and complete the process within four months. The court also restored the OBC reservation in local bodies to the structure that existed prior to 2022. This was a sensitive factor and will impact the outcome to some extent, at least. The bench has observed, “Democratic functioning cannot be held hostage to procedural delays.”
The SC order was delivered on 6 May 2025. On the basis of this directive, the UD noted, “In the election process of municipal corporations, formation of wards and determination of reservation, division of the Assembly electoral roll on ward-wise basis and holding of the elections, there are the three stages.” Considering the time required to complete the various stages and substages of the election process, it is necessary to start this process immediately.”
Launching the first salvo, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the Maha Yuti coalition, which is in power at present, will contest the election together. However, he sounded a cautionary note as well by adding that there can be ‘friendly’ contests for some seats where an alliance does not become possible due to local reasons.
Announcements by various party leaders of going solo, entirely or for some seats is not new for Maharashtra. Eventually, they accommodate each other, it has been seen. When this is not possible, they damage each other’s prospects. Although the BJP and undivided Shiv Sena had a long-standing alliance, the two parties had contested local body elections separately but had joined hands later.
For now, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction and DCM Ajit Pawar’s NCP have sent out positive signals about the united Maha Yuti facing the elections together, echoing the declaration by Fadanvis.
On the other hand, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has failed to present a joint front, at the least till now. Its main leaders, Uddhav Thackeray of the Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar of the NCP (SP) and the Congress are engaged in a word play, refusing to send out any clear signals. If they finally fail to come together, the Maha Yuti will have a clear field. for the local body polls.
Thus, the outcome of the BMC election in particular will be crucial for Uddhav Thackeray’s political future after losing power in 2022. He has renewed to regain some lost ground by focusing on the BMC election. Overtures to cousin Raj Thackeray are part of this strategy. influence. Significance of BMC election result hardly needs to be highlighted since being India’s richest and one of the largest civic bodies, it holds immense political importance for all the stakeholders. Its budget is larger than that of some small states in India. Significantly, the BMC will continue with its traditional single-member ward system, keeping the total member strength at 227.
The ruling BJP will try to expand its mass base in the state but not at the cost of its allies, Shinde and Ajit Pawar. Union home minister Amit Shah has directed party leadership during his recent Mumbai visit accordingly.
In view of this, Thane and Pune will be crucial. Shinde has considerable influence in Thane where the BJP will support him to decimate the Sena (UBT). In return, it will demand his backing in Vidarbha and parts of Marathwada. Similarly, the BJP will prop up Ajit Pawar’s NCP in Pune and western Maharashtra.
The thinking behind this move is that although the BJP is a national party, local body base is the primary platform to develop leaders and to expand the party’s presence by strengthening its network till the grassroots level. Hence, the local body elections will serve as a measurement of the public mood.
In summary, the 2025 municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra are anticipated to have a substantial impact on the state’s future political landscape, influencing the careers of prominent leaders and testing the strength of the major political parties and alliances. Overall, local body polls will be an acid test since it will be the first mandate after the state assembly election held last year. The local body elections will represent the mood of over 70 percent of the state population and will be considered its approval or discontent of the Maha Yuti government.
A Column By
Dilip Chaware – Senior Editor
A media professional for 43 years, with extensive experience of writing on
a variety of subjects; he is also a documentary producer and book author.
