Explained: Why Mumbai Hasn’t Held BMC Elections Since 2022?

Mumbai: The civic elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are set to be announced today in a press conference by the State Election Commission, Maharashtra. The announcement will specify the election dates, marking the end of a prolonged period during which the city has been governed without elected representatives.

The last BMC elections were held on 21 February 2017. The term of the elected body ended in March 2022 but polls were not held at that time. As a result, the BMC has been functioning under an administrator-appointed structure rather than through elected corporators.

During this interim period, the Municipal Commissioner has assumed the responsibilities normally vested in the elected body. The corporation, normally headed by the Mayor and elected representatives, has operated under administrative rule. Some observers have raised concerns about the absence of an elected voice for residents and the consequent impact on local accountability and representation.

Also Watch:

The delay in holding elections was attributed to several factors. One key issue was the challenge of ward delimitation and concerns over the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. Additionally, legal cases in the Supreme Court regarding the number of wards and councillors per ward stalled the process. The number of electoral wards for the upcoming polls has been confirmed to stay at 227 for the BMC.

Upcoming BMC Elections

With the press conference scheduled for Tuesday 4 PM, citizens and political parties alike await the formal election dates. The move is expected to kick-start the election machinery, candidate filing, and campaigning for one of the country’s richest municipal bodies. Once the dates are announced, the election process will begin in right earnest.

To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

news