2017 polls: Delimitation exercise dates finalised

The Maharashtra Election Commission on Monday finalised the dates to complete a delimitation exercise ahead of the 2017 elections to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM).

The 227 wards would have a tough time as there have been changes made in the reservation tickets/lottery system for reserved or open wards which will influence elections. The dates have been declared as October 3, the notice for the same will be served on Septemebr 27.

However, there will be shrinking in the number of corporator wards in South Mumbai as the population is comparatively less than any other wards.

State election commissioner J S Saharia informed, “The average population of each ward is 55,000 and the delimitation of wards will be done in between 5 to 20 October for which suggestions and objections will be considered.” “The decision on it will be taken on November 18 and then a final Government Reservation will be prepared on November 22,” added Saharia.

There are currently 227 wards in the city and they will remain the same whereas, the other Municipal corporations’ which will face the elections in 2017 namely Thane, Ulhasnagar, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Nasik, Akola, Amravati, Nagpur - the number of wards to increase or decrease there will be decided as per the census done in the year 2011 and the reservation ticket/ lottery will open for them on September 30 and suggestions and observations will be considered on October 7.