Pune, 22 January 2026: The reservation category for the Mayor’s post of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is expected to be clarified today. The draw for mayoral reservations across 29 municipal corporations will be held in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Urban Development Madhuri Misal.
Once the reservation is announced, political activity in Pune is expected to intensify, as the category will largely determine who can contest for the post. Based on the rotation system, there is speculation that the Mayor’s post may be reserved for OBC Woman, OBC General, or Scheduled Caste. In the 2017 term, the post was reserved for the General category.
If it again falls under the General category, the contest is expected to become more competitive.
After the reservation draw, the Mayor must be elected within 15 days. The state government may announce an official election programme. If no such directive is issued, the municipal corporation can initiate the process by seeking permission from the Divisional Commissioner and proposing suitable dates.
Once approval is granted, a notice for the general body meeting is issued at least seven clear days in advance. Nominations for the Mayor’s post must be submitted three clear days before the election. The election is then conducted under the supervision of the Divisional Commissioner or an appointed officer.
According to the administration, PMC will send a formal request to the Divisional Commissioner on January 22 to conduct the election. Since voting for the Zilla Parishad elections is scheduled on February 5, February 2 is being considered the most convenient date to complete the Mayor’s election process.