Eknath Shinde rallies former corporators to showcase Shiv Sena’s achievements

Ahead of the BMC elections Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday told former Shiv Sena corporators to present the work done by the party before voters reported news agency PTIShinde who heads the Shiv Sena addressed former corporators here in Nariman Point MLA Nilesh Rane and former Lok Sabha MP Rahul Shewale were also present during the meetingShindes directions came on a day when the time period of civic body polls became clear after the Supreme Court directed the State Election Commission to conduct local body polls before January 31 2026Of the 82 corporators of the undivided Shiv Sena whose term ended in 2022 over 50 joined the Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena after the split in the partyThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls are crucial for the Shindeled Sena to establish its supremacy over the city where the rival Shiv Sena UBT still wields considerable influencePulling up the Maharashtra State Election Commission for noncompliance of its order the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the state local body polls stalled since 2022 to be completed by January 31 2026 without further extensionThe bench was irked over the failure of the state election commission SEC to comply with its order mandating a timely conclusion of the stalled local body electionsElections of all local bodies including Zila Parishads Panchayat Samitis and all municipalities shall be conducted by January 31 2026 No further extension shall be granted to the state and the State Election Commission In case any other logistic assistance required application can be filed promptly before October 31 2025 No prayer will be entertained thereafter a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi saidThe bench was informed that the delimitation for municipalities was underway and the SEC had sought an extension on grounds including insufficient EVMs besides the unavailability of school premises due to board examsWe are constrained to observe that the SEC has failed to take prompt action for compliance of this courts directions in the prescribed time schedule However as a onetime concession we deem apt to issue following directions it saidThe bench added Pending delimitation shall be completed by October 31 2025 No further extension shall be granted Delimitation exercise shall not be ground to defer electionsThe bench rejected the plea for postponement of polls on the ground that due to upcoming board exams the schools premises will be unavailable saying the exams will take place in March next yearThe Chief Secretary Maharashtra to immediately deploy requisite staff to perform duties of returning officers and other assisting staff as may be required it directedIt also asked the state poll panel to submit details of staff required for polls to the chief secretary within two weeksIt said the chief secretary in consultation with secretaries of other departments if required will provide requisite staff to the SEC within four weeks after the request is made by the poll panelAs regard to nonavailability of requisite EVMs we direct the SEC to make necessary arrangements and file a compliance affidavit regarding availability of EVMs by November 30 2025 it orderedThe bench was hearing petitions concerning the longpending civic elections in MaharashtraIn May the court issued an interim order directing the conclusion of polls within four months which is SeptemberWith inputs from PTI