BMC Elections 2025: Lottery to Decide Ward Reservations on November 11

UndercoverEditor News Agency | Editor: Mahesh Rathod | Mumbai | November 10, 2025

In a key development ahead of Mumbai’s most awaited civic elections, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will hold a lottery draw on Tuesday, November 11, to decide the reservation of wards for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Women. The event will take place at Balgandharva Rangmandir in Bandra West at 11 a.m., setting the stage for the 2025 civic polls.

The outcome of this draw will define which of the 227 municipal wards in Mumbai will be reserved under various categories, shaping the upcoming political race for all major parties.

🗳️ Reservation Structure

As per the existing guidelines, 27% (61 seats) will be reserved for OBCs, 17 seats for Scheduled Castes, and two seats for Scheduled Tribes. Additionally, 50% of all seats will be reserved for women, including those falling under the SC, ST, and OBC categories.

Officials from the civic administration confirmed that the lottery results will be immediately submitted to the State Election Commission (SEC). A draft reservation list will then be published on November 14, followed by a window for citizens to file suggestions or objections between November 14 and 20. The final ward reservation list is expected to be released on November 28.

📺 Lottery to Be Broadcast Live

To ensure transparency, the BMC has announced that the entire lottery draw will be televised live. Citizens can watch the proceedings on the BMC’s official YouTube channel @MyBMCMyMumbai or on Hathway Cable Channel No. 26.
For additional details, including ward maps, draft lists, and submission links for objections, residents can visit the official BMC election website: https://www.mcgm.gov.in/irj/portal/anonymous/qlBMCGE2025.

⚖️ First Election Under New Reservation Framework

This will be the first BMC election conducted under the new reservation rotation framework issued by the State Urban Development Department (UDD) on October 9, 2025.
According to the updated rules, wards with higher populations of SC, ST, OBC, or women will be prioritised for reservation, ensuring more accurate demographic representation in local governance.

Political observers believe this change could significantly alter Mumbai’s electoral landscape, giving an advantage to parties with strong grassroots support among particular communities.

🗓️ Elections Likely in January 2026

The much-delayed BMC elections, originally due in 2022, are now expected to be held in mid-January 2026, along with polls for 28 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra.
The last BMC election took place in February 2017, and since the corporators’ term ended in 2022, the civic body — India’s richest municipal corporation — has been functioning under administrative rule.

🏛️ The Road Ahead

With the lottery deciding the reservation of wards, Mumbai’s political landscape is set to enter a crucial phase. The results will not only determine the future representation of marginalised communities but will also signal the beginning of high-stakes political campaigns across the city.