MUMBAI: In a relief to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, the state election commission (SEC) on Friday deferred the scheduled bypolls to local bodies which had been announced earlier in keeping with Supreme Court directives without an OBC quota.
After the SC directed that by-polls for seats meant for OBC candidates should be filled with candidates from the open category, the SEC had said the by-polls in five zilla parishads and 33 municipal councils would be held on July 19. The state government had written twice to the SEC, in the last week of June and on July 7, requesting it to postpone the by-polls in view of the pandemic and the possible third wave.
On Friday, the SEC said that in view of restrictions imposed out of apprehensions of a projected third wave and the fear of spread of the Delta-plus variant, the process of the local body by-polls would be stayed and would be taken further later taking into consideration the Covid situation.
The SC had struck down the state’s amendment of the Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961, saying the OBC quota couldn’t result in crossing the overall 50% quota ceiling. “Further process will be announced after the Covid-19 situation improves,” said state election commissioner U P S Madan.
