Diwali to See Municipal Poll Heat as Final Ward Structure Set by September 4

Pune, 13 June 2025: After a delay of over three and a half years, the state government has finally set the ball rolling for municipal elections by announcing a detailed timeline for preparing the ward structure. According to the plan released yesterday, the draft ward boundaries will be drawn up starting June 11 and the entire process will conclude with the final ward structure notification between August 29 and September 4. This means the election mood will gather momentum just as the city gears up for Diwali festivities.

Following a Supreme Court directive, the government recently approved a four-member ward system for Pune Municipal Corporation and instructed the civic body to frame the draft accordingly. Until now, the absence of a clear timetable had left the civic administration in a bind, but the latest announcement has dispelled the uncertainty.

As per the official schedule, enumeration groups will be set up by June 16, census data verified by June 18, and field inspections conducted until June 23. Ward maps will be prepared using Google Maps by the end of June, with on-site boundary checks in early July. The draft will be signed off by the election committee members by July 7 and submitted to the State Election Commission between July 8 and 10.

The draft ward plan will be made public from July 22 to July 31 to invite objections. Hearings on objections will be held from August 1 to 11, after which the revised plan will be sent back to the Commission for final approval by August 18. The final ward structure will be officially notified between August 29 and September 4.

Following this, the lottery for reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, and women will be held in October. The election code of conduct, expected to last at least 45 days, will follow soon after. With Diwali falling at the end of October, it remains to be seen whether voting will take place before or after the festival.

Regardless, aspirants are expected to woo voters with traditional Diwali ‘faral’ and promises as the electoral heat peaks during the festive season.

Key Dates:

• Enumeration groups: June 11–16

• Census verification: June 17–18

• Site inspection: June 19–23

• Mapping on Google Maps: June 24–30

• Boundary verification: July 1–3

• Draft signing: July 4–7

• Draft submission to State EC: July 8–10

• Draft published, objections invited: July 22–31

• Objection hearings: August 1–11

• Final plan submission to Commission: August 12–18

• Final notification: August 29–September 4