Pune Municipal Corporation Receives 26 Objections on Draft Reservation Draw Ahead of Civic Polls

Pune civic body gets 26 objections from public over reservation draw discrepancies, especially in OBC allocation for its 165 corporator seats.

Pune | November 25, 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation has received 26 objections and suggestions to its recently announced draft reservation draw for the upcoming civic elections. The objections were submitted during the official window that closed on November 24, and they reflect concerns about how the reservation pattern has been designed across the city’s political map.

Under the proposal, PMC has created 165 corporator seats across 41 wards, with 40 wards having four-member panels and one ward having a five-member panel. As per the rules, 50% of all seats are reserved for women, leading to 83 seats for women and 82 for men. The draw also outlines seat allocation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes based on population proportions.

However, much of the criticism revolves around the OBC seat count. Based on demographic calculations, the OBC quota for PMC corresponds to 27%, which should ideally reflect 45 seats. The current draft shows only 44 seats assigned to this category, triggering objections from several citizens and political representatives who argued that even a single-seat discrepancy can impact fair representation. The number of Scheduled Caste seats has increased to 22, while two seats have been retained for Scheduled Tribes in line with the required quota.

Throughout the objection period, people were encouraged to submit written concerns at various civic locations, including the main building, the election office, and ward offices. Civic officials confirmed that all the submissions have been collected and classified for scrutiny. A committee will now assess whether any changes need to be made before the final reservation list is published.

The final draw is expected to be declared on December 2. Until then, the civic administration is expected to evaluate all inputs and determine how many of the objections qualify for revision. Officials stated that the process will be carried out under election guidelines, with an emphasis on compliance and accuracy.

For Pune’s political landscape, these objections may have broader implications. Reservation patterns can change the trajectory of local candidates, influence party strategies, and determine the competitiveness of certain wards. Several community members have argued that reservation is not merely a procedural formality but a critical measure of how effectively local governance reflects demographic realities.

Civic activists believe this issue highlights the need for increased transparency when deciding seat categories. According to them, a clear explanation of how each objection is handled would strengthen public trust, especially at a time when local bodies are under scrutiny for decision-making delays. Residents have also suggested that releasing a detailed breakdown of the reservation formula could help reduce confusion and make the process more accessible.

Despite the criticism, the civic administration maintains that the draw was conducted within the legal framework and that objections are a routine constitutional step before finalizing any reservation layout. The coming week is likely to see heightened political attention as parties and aspirants await the revised seat structure, which will shape their campaigning plans.

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