Supreme Court to hear petitions related to pending Maharashtra civic polls on March 4

The Pune Municipal Corporation, among other civic bodies, has not had an elected body since 2022. The civic bodies are currently run by administrators appointed by the state government.

The state’s ruling alliance led by the BJP is keen for the civic elections to take place soon.

“We have submitted to the Supreme Court all the details of the OBC category data in the state. This will pave the way for the civic elections to be conducted at the earliest after the Supreme Court nod,” Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who is the state BJP chief, said last month.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also expressed concern about the delay in civic elections. “We want the civic polls to be held as early as possible. The former corporators are keen to get back to work after being re-elected, while many young aspirants are gearing up to make their careers in politics by contesting elections,” the NCP leader said.

Rohit Pawar, a legislator of the Opposition NCP (SP), said that those in power appeared to know in advance about the Supreme Court’s possible judgment on the petitions related to the civic polls.

“We have full faith in the Supreme Court. Anything about civic polls will be clear only after the court judgment,” he said, adding that the election process would take time.

If the judgment comes now, the elections should be held at the earliest after the monsoon, but those in power are confidently talking about holding elections before that, he said.