Administrative Preparations Begin for Pune Municipal Elections Amid Delay in Official Notification
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 6th June 2025: Even though the Maharashtra State Election Commission is yet to issue any formal notification, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has begun administrative groundwork for the upcoming municipal elections, acting in line with the Supreme Court’s recent directive to conduct elections to local self-government bodies within four months.
It has been over a month since the apex court’s ruling, but the state government and the State Election Commission have yet to initiate the electoral process. In anticipation, the PMC held a key preparatory meeting chaired by Additional Municipal Commissioner Omprakash Divate. Officers were instructed to liaise with various state departments to secure manpower, identify potential polling stations, and locate offices for election officers.
Addressing media persons, Divate and Election Department Head Prasad Katkar outlined the early measures being taken. “Fifteen employees have been appointed to the Election Department. We are examining the infrastructure requirements based on the four-member ward system, which significantly increases the number of candidates and logistical needs compared to Lok Sabha and Assembly polls,” Divate said.
Unlike national and state elections where each polling station caters to around 1,200 voters, municipal elections—especially under the four-member ward system—require capping the number at 800 voters per booth to ensure smooth conduct. This means a substantial rise in the number of polling booths and electronic voting machines.
Further complicating the planning process is the inclusion of 23 new villages within PMC limits. Officials have been directed to conduct detailed surveys to assess locations for polling centers and election officer offices, including evaluating existing facilities and identifying gaps.
Katkar added, “We’ve also instructed our teams to scrutinize the existing voter lists, especially to verify names that may have been erroneously removed over the years—even those of prominent citizens.”
Letters have already been sent to various government departments, requesting manpower support and logistical coordination.
