How the four-member ward system will change civic elections in Maharashtra

While a candidate can file their application from a ward, they can campaign across four wards in their bunch of wards. If elected, the representative can carry out developmental works in all four wards. A voter can elect the representative, not only of their respective wards but also of three other wards. However, if a voter does not wish to vote for candidates in the other wards, the presiding officer will have to inform polling agents to ensure documentary proof and avoid confusion at the time of counting.

When did the state government opt for the four-member ward system?

The bill proposing a four-member ward system was passed by the state legislative assembly in March 2024, as per which each ward of a municipal corporation shall elect as far as possible four councillors, but not less than three councillors and not more than five councillors.

A three-member ward system in municipal corporations was introduced in 2001 by the then chief minister, Late Vilasrao Deshmukh. It was scrapped in 2006. In 2011, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan introduced a two-member ward system for municipal corporations and a four-member system for councils. In 2016, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis changed it to a four-member system for corporations and a three-member system for councils. In December 2019, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government decided to scrap it and revert to the single-member ward system. But in October 2021, the MVA government took a decision to reintroduce the multi-member ward system for all municipal councils and corporations, barring the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), with a three-member ward system for municipal corporations and a two-member ward system for municipal councils.

This was again changed by the Eknath Shinde-led government in March 2024 by bringing a bill proposing a four-member ward system.

Why are there so many changes over the years?

It is argued that the multi-member ward system benefits those in power at the state level. With state administration being given the power to mark ward boundaries, the political influence over the process cannot be denied. The procedure, however, has checks in the form of a hearing of the draft of the ward boundaries. Each political party over the years has tried to settle the issue based on its agenda and politics. Politically, the system turns out to be beneficial for even a weak candidate who can bank on voters from the wards where their party has a strong presence.

Why a multi-member ward system now?

According to government sources, after reviewing the present situation and to ensure the effective implementation of services and development schemes in the wards, it is necessary to provide each ward of a municipal corporation with four councillors. “It ensures the development of adjacent wards as a result of the panel. Earlier, adjacent wards used to get delayed developmental schemes. It won’t happen now,” said an official.

Apart from weak candidates getting help due to the presence of another strong candidate in the same panel, the caste and gender equations can also be managed using the panel system.

Why Mumbai won’t have a multi-member ward system

The size and population of a ward in Mumbai are much larger than those of any other municipal corporation. It will be a difficult exercise to have a multi-member ward system in the state capital.