Pune To Have 165 Corporators Across 42 Wards; Ward Restructuring Process Begins Following Government Order
Pune To Have 165 Corporators Across 42 Wards; Ward Restructuring Process Begins Following Government Order
Pune | June 12, 2025
As political circles continue to speculate whether the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections will be held before or after Diwali, the Maharashtra state government has issued a directive to organize the city’s electoral wards using a four-member-per-ward model. This move has officially kickstarted the ward restructuring process for the upcoming civic polls.
According to the directive, Pune will now have 165 corporators across 42 wards , based on the 2011 Census population of 34.81 lakh , which includes newly merged villages. The government’s instructions clarify that the ward restructuring will be carried out based on the 2011 population data and must follow specific guidelines regarding geographical and administrative boundaries.
This decision comes after the Supreme Court ordered all local body elections in the state to be conducted within four months . With more than a month having passed since the court’s directive, the absence of ward formation orders had raised doubts among aspiring candidates about the timely conduct of elections.
Key Developments:
- The state has confirmed that PMC elections will follow a four-member ward system , similar to other municipal corporations in Maharashtra.
- A committee headed by the Municipal Commissioner will be formed to prepare the draft ward structure. It will include officials with expertise in geography, urban planning, ward demarcation, and IT.
- Once the draft is ready, it will be submitted to the State Election Commission for approval , followed by a public objection and suggestion hearing.
- After the final approval, the final ward structure will be published .
Ward Structure Guidelines:
- Demarcation will begin from the northern part of the city and move southward.
- Geographical continuity will be ensured.
- Boundaries must consider roads, rivers, canals, flyovers, hills, and natural limits .
- No splitting of buildings, chawls, or housing societies across two wards.
- Every plot, including open spaces, must fall under some ward.
- Boundary descriptions must reference roads, water bodies, city survey numbers , and ensure that neighborhoods are not divided arbitrarily .
Social Composition (2011 Census):
- Total population : 34,81,900
- Scheduled Castes (SC)Â : 4,80,017
- Scheduled Tribes (ST)Â : 41,561
Previously, it was estimated that Pune would have 166 corporators. However, since only full population units are considered per lakh, the final number has been revised down by one, bringing the total to 165 corporators .
With this process now underway, the PMC’s election branch is set to begin draft ward formation, marking the first significant step towards the long-pending municipal elections.
