Fadnavis hails SC order reconfirming 27% OBC quota in Maharashtra local body polls
CM Fadnavis said, 'The Supreme Court directive regarding OBC reservation has two meanings. In the previous decision, the court had said that elections should be held as per the old OBC reservation, the same direction has now been confirmed. Therefore, the OBC quota will be applicable in the upcoming local, and civic body elections. The Supreme Court has also said that elections will be held as per 2017 ward structure, not as per of the year 2022. Therefore, both the demands of the state government have been accepted.'
Former president of Ausa municipal council Afsar Sheikh had approached the court, seeking to conduct elections as per 2022 ward structure. The process for new ward formation is already underway and is likely to get over within a month and the court has refused to stay the same.
NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal said the ensuing local and civic body elections will be held with this 27 per cent OBC reservation and new ward structure.
'In its judgment on May 6, 2025, the Supreme Court had ruled that elections will be held with 27 per cent reservation. In today's ruling, the apex court has confirmed its earlier judgment saying the elections will be held with new ward structure. The Supreme Court has clearly said that composition of wards and its structure is entirely the prerogative of the state government, which has enacted a law in this regard. There is no stay on that. Therefore, today's apex court order has paved the way for holding local and civic body elections in the state with 27 per cent OBC quota and with new ward structure,' he remarked.
NCP SP legislator Jitendra Awhad also hailed the apex court order. However, he accused the Mahayuti government of wasting three years due to vested interest.
In Maharashtra, the local body polls will be nothing less than mini-assembly polls. In urban areas, out of 29 municipal corporations (Jalna and Ichalkaranji newly formed), all are run by administrators and are without an elected body. The state has 248 municipal councils and all have administrators. Out of 147 nagar panchayats, administrators — i.e. expired and newly formed nagar panchayats are 42, where elections will be held.
In rural Maharashtra, out of total 34 zilla parishads, 32 have administrators, except for Bhandara and Gondia whose term will end in May 2027. In case of panchayat samitis, out of total 351 panchayat samitis, 336 have administrators where elections will be held.
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Referring to Gandhi's remarks on the surgical strike and Operation Sindoor, another BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that the Congress leader and his party "hate" Indian armed forces. "Sena ka Apman Congress ki pehchan (Insulting the Army is the hallmark of the Congress)," Poonawalla said in a post on X. "Rahul and Congress hate Indian Armed Forces," he charged, adding, "Today SC has slammed him." Another BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said on X that the Supreme Court's poser to Gandhi about his claim exposed him. He said, "Supreme Court asks Rahul Gandhi - 'How did you know that China had occupied land?'" This question by the Supreme Court has not only "exposed" Gandhi, but further got the attention back on the "secret MoU that Gandhi-Vadra family had with China", he said. "Rahul is working under the remote control of foreign forces," Bhandari charged.
