After SC verdict, fate of polls in 17 Zilla Parishads, 88 panchayat samitis hangs in balance
In Maharashtra, out of 34 Zilla Parishads, there are administrators in 32 ZPs, except for Bhandara and Gondia whose term will expire in May 2027. Out of the total 351 panchayat samitis, elections will be held in 336 of them.
4 min readMumbaiUpdated: Nov 28, 2025 09:31 PM IST
As per the order, the result in 40 nagar parishads and 17 nagar panchayats where the 50 percent reservation limit has been exceeded will be subject to the outcome of the result of the writ petitions. (File Photo)
With the Supreme Court giving the go-ahead for the Maharashtra local body elections as per schedule except for the seats where the total reservation is breaching the 50 per cent mark, the State Election Commission (SEC) is now gearing up for the polls, the schedule for which is likely to be announced by mid-December.
However, uncertainty looms large over the elections of 17 out of 32 Zilla Parishads and 88 out of 336 panchayat samitis as the Supreme Court verdict on Friday did not specify the poll procedure for these rural local bodies where the 50 per cent reservation limit has been crossed. Elections to the 29 municipal corporations and the remaining rural local bodies will be conducted as per the original plan of Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC), which will be announced soon.
According to sources in the State Election Commission, the programme for local civic bodies is likely to be announced by mid December. “We are studying the court order and based on that, a decision will be made about 17 ZPs which have crossed the 50 percent quota limit.” Sources added that in case of adjusting the reservation to 50 per cent limit, the OBC reservation will have to be reorganised, which includes revising the present OBC ward reservation. However, no final decision has been taken yet.
The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the local body polls to proceed as per schedule, with a rider that the results in seats where the total reservation breaches the 50 per cent cap will be subject to the outcome of the proceedings pending before it.
There are 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats where the election process has already commenced, nominations have been filed and voting is scheduled on December 2 and the counting of votes on December 3. However, as per the Supreme Court order, the result in 40 nagar parishads and 17 nagar panchayats where the 50 percent reservation limit has been exceeded will be subject to the outcome of the result of the writ petitions.
In Maharashtra, out of 34 Zilla Parishads, there are administrators in 32 ZPs, except for Bhandara and Gondia whose term will expire in May 2027. Out of the total 351 panchayat samitis, elections will be held in 336 of them.
The 17 ZPs which have crossed the 50 per cent reservation mark include Thane, Palghar, Nashik, Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Hingoli, Nanded, Amravati, Akola, Washim, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Wardha and Gadchiroli. There are a total of 88 out of 336 panchayat samities where the 50 per cent quota has been breached.
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In the case of the 29 municipal corporations, only Nagpur and Chandrapur have exceeded 50 per cent quota limit with 54.30 percent and 53.03 per cent reservation respectively. However, elections will be held there as per the SC order.
Meanwhile, the Opposition slammed the BJP-led Mahayuti government. “The SC order clearly says that the 50 per cent reservation limit should not be crossed, which means the current OBC reservation will have to be curtailed at many places. It exposes BJP’s double standards on OBC reservation,” said Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “We will announce our official position only after studying the exact verdict of the Supreme Court. We fully respect the court’s decision.”
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
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