With Supreme Court clearing way for holding polls to local bodies, giving directive to notify polls within four weeks, the grassroots workers of all the political parties are in a jubilant mood. During the hearing on the matter on Monday, a bench headed by Justice Surya Kant at the apex court directed State Election Commission (SEC) said that endeavour should be made to conclude the elections to local bodies within four months. Further, the Court directed SEC to notify the local body elections within four weeks. Justice Kant observed that in their considered opinion, the constitutional mandate of grassroots democracy through periodical elections of the local bodies ought to be respected and ensured. The top court noted that the local body elections in the State had not been held for several years due to the pendency of several issues that arose with regard to OBC reservations. So after a gap of three-and-half years, general elections to Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats, Zilla Parishad and Gram Panchayats would be held. The three tier model of democratic institutions was impaired after Supreme Court put a stay on notification of elections on the issue of per cant of seats to be reserved for OBC. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) will finally have elected public representatives back in action post SC’s green signal to SEC.

 

The decision has elated grassroot workers of the political parties who were waiting for long. And the decision on Tuesday has given hope for the common man as finally their voice would be heard in the corridors of power. Since last three years, the issue of percentage of seats to be reserved for OBC in local bodies was pending for decision in apex court. Now the Court said the elections be held on data relating to population and reservation criteria that existed prior to 2022. With apex court directing issuance of poll notification within four week, it means the process of nomination and thereafter campaigning will clash with rainy season, a period when entire administration is on its toes to deal with any natural calamity. It remains to be seen whether SEC abides by the directives or as per talks, it may approach Apex Court and seek extension in time to ensure that elections be held in October-November period, post conclusion of rainy season period.

 

The local authorities at NMC are waiting for directives from SEC as at apex level, the officers are awaiting for final details. The division bench of Supreme Court led by Justice Surya Kant further observed that constitutional mandate of grassroot democracy through periodical elections of the local bodies ought to be respected and ensured. Local body elections in Maharashtra had not been held for several years due to the pendency several issues that arose with regard to OBC reservations. For past 3 years, the House comprising elected public representative in all Municipal Corporations and other local bodies of State have been in suspended animation following completion of 5-year tenure. In 2022, the process of draws for reservation, for ST, SC and OBC and for women was completed and in Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), 156 seats were announced with 52 Prabhags. But the issue of whether to go for Prabhag of 3 or 4 led to stalemate and matter thereafter reached the Courts over OBC quota in local bodies led to long stalemate.

 

As of now, the issue of Prabhag with representation of 3 or 4 is not clear as the 2022 draw were based on premise of 3 representatives. In case SEC notifies 4 Prabhag, then entire reservation and Prabhag boundaries will undergo massive change. Since the elections to Assembly were held with revised list of voters, the local body polls will also be based on same number of voters. During 2017 incidentally, the elections to NMC were held with 4 representatives in a Prabhag and that time their number was 38. The voters number that time was 20,93,392 with population base of 29,47,494.