The long-delayed Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections will now be conducted using the pre-2022 ward structure, with the total number of wards reverting to 227, as confirmed by sources in the civic administration. The development follows a Supreme Court directive that has mandated the Maharashtra government to hold local body elections within four weeks.
This decision marks a reversal of the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government’s controversial move to increase the number of municipal wards to 236, which had sparked significant political and legal friction — particularly over the issue of OBC reservation implementation.
Why the Ward Count Is Being Reverted
A senior BMC election official has confirmed that preparations for the elections are now underway.
“We are beginning the process of redrawing ward boundaries and conducting the reservation lottery. The ward count is expected to remain at 227, as per the Supreme Court’s direction,” the official stated.
The Supreme Court’s decision effectively nullifies the MVA’s expansion plan, which had faced criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP had argued that the ward increase lacked merit in the absence of updated census data.
Background: A Corporation Under Administrator Rule
The BMC — Asia’s richest civic body — has been under administrator rule since March 7, 2022, following the completion of its five-year elected term. The delay in conducting elections was largely due to prolonged legal disputes over OBC reservations, which led to political stalemates and administrative hold-ups.
Changing Political Equations Ahead of the Polls
The last civic election in 2017 saw the undivided Shiv Sena emerge as the single largest party with 84 seats, closely followed by the BJP with 82. The Congress managed 31 seats, and the MNS secured seven, six of whom eventually merged with Shiv Sena.
However, the political landscape has shifted dramatically since the 2022 split in Shiv Sena. Notably, 26 former corporators have now aligned with Eknath Shinde’s faction, reshaping the battle lines ahead of what is expected to be a high-stakes contest.
What Happens Next?
With the ward structure back to 227, the State Election Commission (SEC) and BMC are expected to fast-track the processes of:
Redrawing ward boundaries
Finalizing ward-wise reservation quotas
Issuing an updated electoral roll
Announcing the official election schedule
As the race for control over the BMC intensifies, all eyes are now on how the political parties adapt to the restored structure — and how voters respond to the evolving dynamics.
