Mumbai: Deadline Set for Long-Pending BMC Elections

The long-awaited local self-government elections have finally received a deadline. According to available information, the Bombay High Court has ordered that the entire election process, including the declaration of results, be completed by January 31, 2026.

As a result, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation elections are likely to be held in the coming months. The State Election Commission has been directed to complete elections for all local self-government bodies  including gram panchayats, nagar panchayats, and municipal corporations within the next four months or by January 2026.

BMC elections delayed by 5 years

Maharashtra's Local Body elections have been delayed for the last four to five years. A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking an extension of time to hold these delayed elections. The court held a hearing on this demand made by the Election Commission on Tuesday. In this, the Supreme Court has extended the deadline for the elections till January 31, 2026. The Supreme Court has made it clear that no further extension will be granted after January 31.

The local body elections in the state were delayed due to several reasons including the issue of OBC reservations. The stay on the elections was lifted by the Supreme Court. In May, the court had ordered the Election Commission to complete the election-related processes within four months, i.e. by October 2025. 

Accordingly, the Commission has started the work of ward re-demarcation, reservation, and preparation of voters' lists. However, the reasons given by the state were EVMs, festivals, and shortage of staff. After that, the Supreme Court has extended the deadline for the elections till January 31, 2026. Therefore, it is clear that the local body elections in the state will be held next year.

What happened in the hearing?

The Supreme Court has now extended the deadline for the state government to conduct the elections for local bodies like Municipal Corporation, Municipality, Zilla Parishad and Nagar Panchayat in the state. Accordingly, the state government will now have to complete the process of local body elections before January 31, 2026. Earlier, the Supreme Court had ordered local body elections within four months. However, even though this period has now expired, not a single local government body election has been held.

A hearing was held in the Supreme Court on Tuesday in this regard. At that time, the court asked the state government why there was such a delay in the election process. When the state government presented its case, the court has now extended the deadline for the local body elections to January 31, 2026. Therefore, by January 31, the State Election Commission will have to conduct elections to all municipal corporations, municipalities, Zilla Parishads, and Nagar Panchayats and declare their results.

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