On January 22, 2026, the Maharashtra Urban Development Department conducted the mayoral reservation draw for 29 municipal corporations statewide. The event took place at the Mantralaya in Mumbai, this lottery established the reservation categories designated for the mayoral positions for the upcoming term of 2.5 years, highlighting the government's commitment to equitable representation in municipal governance.
Maharashtra’s policy of 50% reservation for women in local self-government bodies, 15 out of the 29 municipal corporations will now have women mayors. This move reinforces the state’s long-standing emphasis on increasing women’s participation in urban governance and leadership.
Among the major corporations, significant political attention has been drawn to the reservations for General Woman mayors in Mumbai (BMC), Pune (PMC), Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Navi Mumbai. Other General Woman mayors include Nashik, Malegaon, Nanded-Waghala, Dhule, and Mira-Bhayander. In contrast, Nagpur is classified under General (Open) category, allowing for broader participation. Furthermore, within the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, cities such as Ahilyanagar, Akola, Chandrapur, and Jalgaon are reserved specifically for OBC Women. Meanwhile, Panvel, Ulhasnagar, Kolhapur, and Ichalkaranji are for OBC Open, indicating an inclusive approach for OBC candidates. This strategic allocation of mayoral positions highlights the emphasis on increasing female representation and ensuring that various social categories are appropriately represented in political offices.
In the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe frameworks, Thane has been designated for the SC category, while the districts of Latur and Jalna are reserved for SC Women. Furthermore, the Kalyan-Dombivli region is reserved for the ST category. This framework encompasses all 29 municipal corporations in the state.
The announcement regarding the reservation provoked immediate political reactions from various parties. The opposition, specifically the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), lodged formal objections, claiming that the reservation process was “rigged” to benefit the ruling Mahayuti alliance. A focal point of their criticism was the exclusion of Mumbai from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories, which they argued undermined fair political advantages in significant urban areas. In contrast, the ruling parties defended the legitimacy of the draw, asserting that it was executed transparently and in adherence to constitutional provisions alongside state reservation norms.
With the reservation categories finalized, political parties are poised to promptly nominate mayoral candidates from their elected corporators, ensuring compliance with the newly established reservation criteria. The elections for the new mayors are anticipated to occur in their respective municipal corporation halls by early February 2026. These reservations not only highlight an increasing emphasis on women's roles in civic administration but also reflect the ongoing political contestation for dominance in the state's major cities.
