Mumbai, Nov 26 (NationPress) The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has unveiled a revised timeline for the voter list preparation and publication, ahead of the elections for 29 municipal corporations. This updated schedule is designed to promote enhanced transparency, accuracy, and increased public engagement in the local democratic processes.

The newly released timetable revises the previous program from November 13, 2025, extending significant deadlines in the voter-list process.

This adjustment occurs just days before a Supreme Court hearing on Friday regarding the contentious matter of reservations in local bodies, an issue that has been unresolved for several years.

As per the new timeline, the deadline for filing claims, objections, and suggestions regarding the draft voter lists has been moved to December 3, replacing the former date of November 27. The authentication and release of the final division-wise voter lists will now occur on December 10 instead of December 5; the publication of polling-station localization lists is set for December 15, instead of December 8; and the polling-station-wise voter lists will be published on December 22, instead of December 12.

According to this revised schedule, the draft voter lists will be accessible on official municipal and SEC websites, enabling eligible citizens to verify their information and submit any necessary corrections or objections. Election authorities have granted an extension on key deadlines for submitting claims and objections, providing citizens with additional time to rectify inaccuracies in voter data, request name inclusions, or seek removals.

The SEC's decision to amend the schedule is in response to demands from opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, for a more extended period for submitting suggestions and objections.

Shiv Sena-UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray and MNS founder Raj Thackeray called for a 21-day period for submitting suggestions and objections or for the elections to be postponed until the electoral rolls are corrected. Both leaders highlighted concerning discrepancies and frequent alterations in recent voter lists, cautioning that these issues could compromise the transparency and integrity of the electoral process.

In a joint letter, the parties expressed their dissatisfaction with the final revised voter list for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, dated October 30, 2025, which was neither published promptly nor clearly, leaving voters and political parties without essential information.

They raised concerns regarding delays in updates to women's supplementary electoral rolls and questioned why the State Election Commission had not clarified crucial procedural issues.

The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee also urged the SEC to extend the deadline for submitting objections and suggestions to the draft voter lists issued by various municipal corporations in the state, deeming the current seven-day limit insufficient. State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, and Legislative Council group leader Satej Patil stated in a letter to the SEC that the draft voter list for municipal corporation elections was published on November 20, 2025, with the deadline for objections and suggestions set for November 27, 2025.

They emphasized that numerous municipal corporations require an extension of this deadline, as the current seven-day period is extremely short and should be extended by an additional 15 days.