THE ward reservation process for the upcoming municipal elections in Bhilai, Bhilai -3 Charoda and Risali was completed at Kala Mandir, Civic Centre, on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Durg Collector Abhijit Singh. Of the 70 wards in Bhilai Municipal Corporation, 23 have been reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBC), including eight for OBC women and 15 for OBC general category. Three wards have been reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST), nine for Scheduled Castes (SC), and 24 for the general category. Of the 24 general wards, 11 are reserved for women. The reservation was conducted through a lottery system based on the 2011 Census data and ward blocks created during the 2020 delimitation. The reservation has changed the electoral calculations for several sitting corporators and aspirants. Political parties are now expected to begin the process of selecting candidates.

 

New faces are likely to emerge in OBC and womenreserved wards, while sitting corporators whose wards have moved to reserved categories may seek tickets from other wards. The reservation process for Risali Municipal Corporation’s 40 wards was also completed. It includes eight OBC wards, seven SC wards, three ST wards and 22 general-category wards, with several seats reserved for women. Congress leaders did not participate in the process and later raised slogans before the Collector in protest. The Congress district president said changes in wards were part of the rotational reservation system and that the party would finalise its strategy and candidates after discussions among senior leaders. The BJP district president said the party would contest all 70 Bhilai wards and give opportunities to working party members, including youth and women. The reservation process for Bhilai-Charoda Municipal Corporation (BCMC) was also completed by late evening.