Maharashtra Municipal Corporations to Conduct Mayoral Reservation Lottery on January 22

The election process for mayors in Mumbai, Pune, and 28 other Maharashtra municipal corporations will begin with a reservation lottery scheduled for January 22, 2026. This lottery, conducted by the Urban Development Department, determines the social category—such as women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, or open—for which the mayoral post is reserved. Following the announcement, political parties will nominate candidates, and corporators will vote to elect mayors for 2.5-year terms. The lottery ensures transparency and rotation among social groups, delaying mayoral appointments until completion of this legal process.