BMC Elections By January? Supreme Court Issues Key Directive To Maharashtra Poll Body

The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) for its failure to adhere with the earlier schedule set by the court for conducting local body elections in the state.

While extending the timeline as a one-time concession, the top court directed that elections to all local bodies in Maharashtra shall be conducted by January 31, 2026.

No further extension shall be granted, apex court said.

Notably, the civic bodies whose polls are due include the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which is the civic body of Mumbai.

Local elections were last held in Maharashtra in 2017 to select members of municipal councils, nagar panchayats, and municipal corporations.

The apex court was irked over the failure of the state election commission to comply with its order mandating the timely conclusion of the stalled local body elections.

"Elections of all local bodies, including Zila Parishads, Panchayat Samitis, and all municipalities, shall be conducted by January 31, 2026. No further extension shall be granted to the state and the State Election Commission," a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said.

On the Supreme Court’s directive for Maharashtra to complete local body elections by January 2026, advocate Devdatt Palodkar told PTI, "On May 6, 2025, the Supreme Court directed the State Election Commission of Maharashtra and the State Government to notify local body elections within two weeks and complete the process within four weeks. The deadline set was September 6, 2025. However, no progress was made, neither were elections declared, nor were they conducted within this four-month period."

"As a result, the State Election Commission of Maharashtra filed an application before the Supreme Court seeking an extension. Although the matter was not formally listed, oral submissions were made... In conclusion, the Supreme Court has made it clear that no extension will be granted beyond January 31, 2026. All panchayat and municipal elections in Maharashtra must be held and completed before that date," he added.