BMC Polls Delayed as Supreme Court Ruling Blocks Local Elections
The eagerly awaited Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls have been delayed due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court. The court’s decision has put a halt on any local elections until various pending cases, including one related to the reservation of seats for Other Backward Classes (OBC), are resolved.
The ruling comes in response to a statement made by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab, who dared the Eknath Shinde-led government to go ahead with the BMC polls, claiming that there was no court stay on it. In clarifying the situation, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pointed out that the state government is not responsible for organizing the elections; it is the State Election Commission (SEC) that oversees the process.
In August 2022, the SEC instructed the BMC to halt all activities related to the polls. Fadnavis expressed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) readiness to proceed with the elections and emphasized the need for them to be held as soon as possible.
Another issue that has caused controversy is the allotment of an office for Mumbai suburban guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha in the BMC headquarters. Fadnavis addressed this matter, assuring that the office would be dismantled once the BMC polls take place and the civic general body is established.
While there is no stay on the increase in the number of wards, the Supreme Court has bundled the OBC reservation case with various other pending cases. Until these cases are resolved, the court has ruled that no local polls can be conducted. Fadnavis acknowledged the BJP’s eagerness to proceed with the BMC polls but explained that they are bound by the court’s decision. He suggested approaching the SEC to push for the elections to be held.
Fadnavis also confirmed that the BMC’s desalination project, aimed at providing a sustainable solution to the city’s water scarcity, will continue as planned. Tenders for the project will be floated in October this year. He emphasized that the project has not been halted and that the feasibility report is ready for implementation.
The delay in the BMC polls can be attributed to various factors, including the initial postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent legal challenges. The number of wards was also a point of contention, with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government initially increasing it from 227 to 236, which was later reversed by the Shinde-led government. The final decision on the number of wards is still pending before the Supreme Court.
The uncertainty surrounding the BMC polls has raised concerns among citizens, who have been unable to address their grievances due to the absence of elected corporators. In response, a temporary office was established with a budget of Rs 35 crore for all 36 assembly constituencies in Mumbai. Fadnavis clarified that this measure was taken to ensure that citizens had a platform to voice their concerns in the absence of corporators.
The delay in the BMC polls is undoubtedly frustrating for the citizens of Mumbai, who are eager to exercise their democratic right to elect their representatives. While the Supreme Court’s ruling has put a temporary halt on the elections, there is hope that the pending cases will be resolved soon, paving the way for the much-awaited BMC polls.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency or organization.
