Pune, 24th June 2025: The local body elections in Maharashtra, including the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), are now expected to be delayed by about a month. This follows the state government’s decision to extend the deadline for finalising ward boundaries from September 4 to October 6, senior officials confirmed.

With this revised timeline, municipal elections across the state are now likely to be held in late November or early December instead of the previously expected schedule.

A senior official in the Urban Development Department said, “The final notification of ward boundaries is a critical step before announcing the election schedule. With the deadline now pushed to October 6, voting will have to be deferred accordingly.”

The BMC, India’s wealthiest civic body, will continue with its current 227 wards. The previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government had increased the number to 236, citing population growth, but the Mahayuti government, led by the BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), reversed the decision, insisting that the boundaries must align with 2011 Census data, which does not support an increase.

An Urban Development Department official clarified, “Ward boundaries must be drawn strictly according to the 2011 Census. The number of voters or current residents cannot be considered; it’s purely a population-based exercise, not based on electoral rolls.”

A circular has been sent to all municipal commissioners directing them to finalise draft ward boundaries in line with the new guidelines. While minor adjustments may be allowed for geographical or urban planning reasons, no changes beyond what the census justifies will be permitted, the official added.