Mumbai, Jan 12 (NationPress) As the excitement builds for the Municipal Corporation elections in Maharashtra, the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) is expected to reveal the election schedule for 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis on Tuesday.

With Class 12 state board examinations commencing on February 10, the voting for these local bodies is anticipated on February 5, according to SEC sources.

This announcement follows the Supreme Court's decision on Monday to accept the SEC's request for an extension to conduct these elections beyond the January 31 deadline.

The SEC initially sought an extension to February 10, but the Supreme Court pushed it to February 15, instructing the state election body to complete elections for the 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis by that date.

While the state is in the midst of municipal election campaigning, with only the voting and counting stages remaining, the SEC has concluded its preparations for the zilla parishads and panchayat samitis.

In the first phase, elections will be conducted for 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 panchayat samitis where the 50% reservation threshold has not been violated.

Currently, elections for 32 Zilla Parishads and 336 Panchayat Samitis are still pending across Maharashtra. Out of these, 20 zilla parishads and 211 panchayat samitis exceed the 50% reservation cap, and their elections will depend on the directives from the apex court.

As a result, the SEC has prioritized the elections in 12 districts and 125 panchayat samitis that align with the legal reservation limits.

The elections will occur in the following revenue division-wise districts: Pune Division: Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur; Konkan Division: Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg; and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Division: Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv, Latur.

The primary cause for the delay has been the legal disputes regarding OBC (Other Backward Classes) quotas.

In 2021, the Supreme Court annulled the 27% OBC reservation in local bodies, as it exceeded the 50% limit established by the Indra Sawhney judgment.

The court mandated a triple test—setting up a commission, gathering empirical data, and ensuring that total reservations do not surpass 50%—before reinstating the quota, leading to a protracted process of data collection and legal challenges.

These elections are often referred to as 'Mini Assemblies', as they capture the grassroots sentiments of rural and semi-urban voters.

The outcomes of these elections are vital for major political alliances in Maharashtra, as they build momentum for upcoming state-level contests.