Mumbai: In a major blow for political parties across the board in Maharashtra, on Tuesday, the Supreme Court refused to stay the election process launched in 271 gram panchayats in 62 talukas, with polling slated for August 4. These elections will take place in the absence of 27 per cent political reservation in local bodies. The model code of conduct has been in effect from June 29, when the State Election Commission (SEC) had made an announcement in this regard. Talukas which receive low rainfall were selected, as per the Supreme Court order delivered on May 17, 2022.
The SC judgment comes days after the ruling and opposition parties made a strong case before the SEC for the postponement of these elections and also those to 92 nagar parishads and four nagar panchayats slated for August 18, citing heavy rains and the absence of OBC quota.
Interestingly, Tuesday was the first day for the filing of nominations in 271 gram panchayats and the process will continue till July 19, except for July 16-17, which are government holidays. The scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on July 20, while the deadline for withdrawal of nominations will be July 22. Voting will be held on August 4 and counting will be on August 5.
A senior officer from the rural development department told The Free Press Journal, “As per today’s (Tuesday’s) order, elections will be held in 271 gram panchayats from 62 talukas. However, the government will request the apex court and also the SEC to defer these considering the heavy rains and floods reported in some of these talukas and other parts of Maharashtra, as it has completely hampered transport and communication. It will adversely impact the movement of the necessary staff in these areas.”
However, an SEC officer said that the election process in 271 gram panchayats was already underway and voting would take place on August 4 as per the poll schedule. “The SEC will look into the representations made by district authorities on heavy rains and floods and will accordingly modulate the poll process.”
As reported by The Free Press Journal, the BJP, NCP and Congress have demanded that these polls be deferred and be conducted after the monsoon and importantly, after the restoration of OBC quota in local bodies. They have cited that a dedicated commission on OBCs has already submitted its report on empirical data to the state government, which, in turn, has presented it to the apex court.
The opposition NCP has announced that it will field OBC nominees in these elections. The BJP leader and former minister Pankaja Munde insisted that local body elections should take place only after the restoration of OBC quota. “I will request the chief minister and the deputy chief minister to immediately stay the elections to 271 gram panchayats and 92 nagar parishads and four nagar panchayats though the apex court has ruled that elections to these local bodies are inevitable. There won’t be any compromise on the OBC quota in local bodies and therefore elections need to be postponed,” she noted.
As far as elections to the 92 nagar parishads and four nagar panchayats are concerned, the SEC has already announced the poll schedule but the notification of election will be issued on July 20 by the respective district collectors.
