Mumbai BMC elections postponed, possibly by 6 months, may be held in October?

MUMBAI: With the refusal of the Supreme Court to accept data presented by the Maharashtra State government with regard to the issue of OBC reservation, the state government passed a resolution in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly that local body elections including those of the Mumbai BMC, will not be held without OBC reservation.

This development came after the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly unanimously cleared the amendment to the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and the Industrial Township Act.

Other amendments were made to the Maharashtra Village Panchayats and Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act.

This means that the elections to the BMC stand postponed and could be delayed for as much as six months. Sources said the elections might be held in October.

The submission of OBC imperial data, as required by the Supreme Court, will take time. And the State government is in no mood of conducting the civic polls in the various Municipal Corporations in the State until the issue of OBC reservation is sorted out as it represents a sizable vote bank for the ruling Shiv Sena-led MVA government.