The results of the highly anticipated Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections were announced on Friday, with the alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena securing a clear majority. While there is a tough competition between the two parties over who gets the Mayor’s post, the city is unlikely to get a Mayor immediately.
While one may think that this delay is due to the political tug-of-war, but its not. It is rather due to a specific legal process that must be completed first. According to Loksatta, here is how the selection works:
The Reservation System
The new Mumbai Mayor is elected by the newly elected corporators. However, the post is subject to a reservation lottery. No political party can announce its candidate until the state government officially notifies which social category (e.g., General, SC, ST, or OBC) the seat is reserved for in this term. Therefore, a Mayor is unlikely to be appointed this week.
The Lottery Method for Transparency
The Urban Development Department uses a lottery (lucky draw) system to decide the reservation. This ensures the process is neutral and transparent, preventing any political party or the sitting government from fixing the reservation to suit their own candidates. This system prevents one specific group from holding the office repeatedly.
Rotation of Mumbai Mayor Post
Based on the 74th Amendment of the Indian Constitution, urban local bodies must reserve the Mayor’s post for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Women on a rotational basis. The goal is to ensure that all sections of society get an equal opportunity to lead the city.
Step-by-step process to elect new Mumbai Mayor
The List: Officials prepare a rotation list based on which categories held the post in previous terms.
The Draw: A public lottery is held to finalize the reservation.
The Meeting: Once the category is announced, a special meeting of the Municipal Corporation is called.
The Vote: Only corporators belonging to the announced reserved category (or any corporator if it is “General”) can contest. The Mayor is elected by a simple majority.
The Magic Number: In the 227-member BMC house, a candidate needs at least 114 votes to win.