Mumbai Mayor Election: Lottery to Decide Reservation, Process Takes a Week
Mumbai will not get a new mayor immediately after the recent municipal corporation elections. Political negotiations between the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are ongoing, but legal procedures also play a crucial role. A lottery system will determine the reservation category for the mayor's post, adding about a week to the timeline.
Why the Delay in Electing a Mayor?
Unlike ward results decided directly by voters, the mayor is elected by corporators. The post is subject to reservation by rotation. Until this reservation is decided through a draw of lots and officially notified, political parties cannot name their candidates. This makes it unlikely for Mumbai to have a mayor this week.
Understanding the Reservation System
Under the law for most Urban Local Bodies across India, the mayor's post must be reserved by rotation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and women. This reservation is not fixed in advance. Instead, it is decided through a draw of lots conducted by the Urban Development Department.
Only after this lottery is held and the category is officially announced can the process of electing the mayor begin. As a result, even after polling and counting are over, Mumbai may have to wait days before the city gets a mayor.
Legal Basis for Rotation
The system of reserving the mayor's post flows from the 74th Constitutional Amendment. This amendment gave constitutional status to urban local bodies and mandated reservation for SCs, STs, and women in leadership positions. In Maharashtra, this is implemented through the Municipal Corporations Act, which extends reservation to OBCs as well.
To ensure fairness, the law requires that the mayor's post rotate among these categories over successive terms.
Why Use a Lottery?
The draw of lots is meant to keep the process neutral. By using a lottery, authorities avoid accusations that political parties or governments are fixing the reservation to suit their interests. Rotation through a random draw also ensures that different social groups get a chance to occupy the mayor's chair over time.
This prevents one category from benefiting repeatedly.
How the Lottery Process Works
The process begins with the Urban Development Department issuing a notification to conduct the lottery. Based on past terms, officials prepare a rotation list of eligible categories. A public draw is then held.
Once a chit is drawn, the reservation category is finalised and formally notified. Only after this step can the BMC convene a special meeting of corporators to elect the mayor. The mayor is chosen from among members belonging to the reserved category or the open category as per the lottery.
The mayor is elected by a simple majority. In Mumbai, this means the support of more than 114 corporators in the 227-member House. The last two mayors of Mumbai, as per the reservation lottery, were from the open general category.
Powers of the Mumbai Mayor
As per the Constitution and the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, the mayor is the ceremonial head of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The mayor is elected by corporators from among themselves for a term of two-and-a-half years.
The role mainly involves:
- Presiding over meetings of the general body
- Maintaining order during debates
- Using a casting vote if there is a tie
The mayor also represents Mumbai at official functions as the city's first citizen. They act as a bridge between elected representatives and the administration. However, the mayor does not control civic departments or finances.
These powers rest with the Municipal Commissioner, an IAS officer appointed by the state government.
The election process highlights how legal frameworks intersect with political dynamics in urban governance. Mumbai's residents await the outcome as the city navigates this structured yet uncertain path to selecting its next mayor.
