Pune: The process to define the new ward structure for local body elections in Maharashtra has officially begun, following a detailed timeline issued by the Urban Development Department (UDD). The final structure is set to be notified by the State Election Commissioner on September 4, paving the way for reservation allocations and the eventual declaration of municipal elections.
The timeline for the ward delimitation process spans from June 1 to early September. Key stages include the formation of enumeration teams, on-ground verifications, mapping of wards using Google Maps, and public consultation. Hearings on objections will be conducted between August 1 and 11, with the final structure to be submitted by mid-August.
Following the Supreme Court’s directive clearing the path for elections, preparations across the state have accelerated. With Diwali semester exams due in schools, election officials anticipate that municipal polls will be held in late October or early November.
In Pune, the delimitation exercise will bring changes to the composition of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Despite incorporating 21 new villages into its jurisdiction, PMC’s corporator strength will be limited to 165, down from the originally projected 173. This effectively reduces eight corporator positions that were expected in the earlier plan from 2022.
The restructuring is based on the 2011 census, which records PMC’s population at 34.8 lakh. However, current electoral rolls suggest the voting population is closer to 45 lakh. According to Election Officer Prasad Katkar, the city is expected to be divided into 42 wards, with 39 of them likely to be four-member wards.
PMC Ward Delimitation Schedule Highlights:
June 1–16: Formation of teams and preliminary ward mapping
June 17–18: Census data verification
June 19–23: Field inspections
June 24–30: Google Maps-based ward plotting
July 1–3: Physical verification of ward areas
July 4–7: Preliminary structure approval by the committee
July 8–10: Submission to the State Election Commission
July 22–31: Public release and objection/suggestion window
August 1–11: Hearings on public objections
August 12–18: Final structure approval and submission
August 29–September 4: Final notification of ward structure
Once the ward structure is finalized, the State Election Commission will issue an official notification. The government has confirmed this will occur on September 4, after which the process of assigning reservation categories will begin. Election dates may be announced any time thereafter.
