SC dismisses challenges to OBC quota and new ward structure in Maharashtra. Elections will proceed with 27% OBC reservation, but delays in ward finalization may push polls to early 2026
Pune | 6 August 2025: The path is now clear for local body elections in Maharashtra to be conducted with 27% reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and as per the newly framed ward structure, after the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed all petitions challenging both these aspects.
One of the petitions demanded that the elections to Ausa Municipality in Latur be held as per the old ward structure (pre-March 11, 2022), while another challenged the legality of the OBC quota. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the issue of ward structuring falls completely under the jurisdiction of the state government, and refused to intervene.
Notably, the ward boundaries were first revised under the Maha Vikas Aghadi regime and later reshuffled again under the current Mahayuti government — a move that had been legally contested. But with the apex court’s verdict, it has been made clear that all local self-government elections will proceed according to the latest ward layout.
The elections had been delayed repeatedly due to the legal wrangle over the OBC quota. However, on May 6, 2025, the Supreme Court permitted elections with 27% reservation for OBCs. On Monday, the court reaffirmed this stance and ruled out any further change.
The continuation of the OBC quota will, however, push the total reservation beyond the 50% cap in certain districts such as Dhule, Nandurbar, Gadchiroli, and Palghar, where the Scheduled Tribe population is significant. This may reopen old debates, as similar concerns had surfaced in 2017.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that elections will follow the 2017 ward structure model. Meanwhile, Minister and Samata Parishad founder Chhagan Bhujbal expressed satisfaction, saying all legal hurdles for OBC reservation have now been cleared.
The Supreme Court had instructed that the local elections must be completed within four months from May, setting a deadline in September. However, the process of finalizing the ward structures is still ongoing. The Urban Development Department has set an October deadline for municipalities to complete the redrawing process, after which time must be allotted for public objections and hearings.
Given these delays, the full process is expected to stretch until November, making it increasingly likely that the actual elections will be held in early 2026.
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