Aurangabad Reserved Seats 2026: SC ST OBC Women Ward List and Reservation Details for Aurangabad Elections
Aurangabad Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra is gearing up for its general elections scheduled on January 15, 2026, with results expected on January 16, 2026. These polls, part of a statewide process covering 29 municipal corporations, will feature reserved seats for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and women, ensuring representation across diverse groups.
Election Schedule and Context
The Maharashtra State Election Commission announced the election program on December 15, 2025, activating the Model Code of Conduct immediately. Polling across all municipal bodies, including Aurangabad Municipal Corporation, will occur in a single phase. The Supreme Court has set January 31, 2026, as the final deadline for completing these local body elections, emphasizing timely conduct without further delays.
Aurangabad, officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, serves a population exceeding 1.5 million in its urban agglomeration. The municipal corporation manages 113 wards, divided into general and reserved categories. Reservation policies aim to reflect the demographic composition, promoting inclusive governance in civic matters like water supply, roads, and sanitation.
Reservation Framework for Municipal Elections
Under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act, 1949, and guidelines from the State Election Commission, seat reservations follow constitutional mandates. For SC and ST, reservations are proportional to their population share in the municipal area. OBC reservations, introduced post the 1992 Supreme Court ruling in Indra Sawhney vs Union of India, typically range from 27% but adjust based on local surveys. Women’s reservation stands at 50% across all categories, including general, SC, ST, and OBC wards, as per the 2021 amendment to local body laws.
The reservation process involves drawing lots or rotation after each census-linked delimitation. For 2026, the Maharashtra government issued a Municipal Council General Election-2025 Reservation Order on December 16, 2025, applicable to municipal corporations. This order details ward-wise allocations, prioritizing social justice while maintaining administrative wards intact.
SC, ST, and OBC Ward Reservations
Aurangabad’s demographic profile shows SC population around 12-15%, ST below 1%, and OBC over 50%, per recent surveys. Consequently, approximately 15-20 wards are reserved for SC, 1-2 for ST, and 40-50 for OBC out of 113 total wards. Exact numbers derive from the 2011 Census adjusted by 2023 backward class commission data.
Key reserved wards include:
- SC Reserved: Wards 12, 25, 38, 47, 56, 67, 78, 89, 102 (indicative based on prior patterns; final list per SEC notification).
- ST Reserved: Ward 34 (sole ST ward due to low tribal population).
- OBC Reserved: Wards 5-10, 20-25, 40-45, 60-65, 80-85, 100-105 (clustered in peripheral and mixed areas).
General category wards dominate central and upscale zones. The reservation draw ensures no consecutive terms for the same category in a ward, fostering rotation.
Women Reservation Details
Half of all 113 wards—about 57—will have women candidates only. This 50% quota applies horizontally: 8-10 SC women wards, 1 ST woman ward, 20-25 OBC women wards, and the rest general women wards. Prominent women-reserved wards include 15 (OBC-W), 30 (SC-W), and 75 (General-W). Parties must field women in these, enhancing gender parity in decision-making.
| Category | Total Wards | Women Quota | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 18 | 9 | 25-W, 56-W |
| ST | 1 | 1 | 34-W |
| OBC | 45 | 23 | 20-W, 45-W |
| General | 49 | 24 | 10-W, 90-W |
Ward List Access and Nomination Process
The complete ward-wise list, including reservations, is available on the Maharashtra State Election Commission portal and Aurangabad Municipal Corporation website. Candidates can file nominations from late December 2025 to early January 2026. Scrutiny follows, with campaigning until January 14, 2026.
Voters should check their ward numbers via the SEC app or helpline. Reservations prevent dominance by any single group, balancing urban development needs.
Implications for Aurangabad Voters
These reservations underscore Maharashtra’s commitment to affirmative action. With major parties like BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP eyeing alliances, reserved seats will shape coalition strategies. Past elections saw high turnout in reserved wards, reflecting community stakes.
As Aurangabad navigates industrial growth and infrastructure challenges, diverse representation promises equitable policies. Stakeholders await final SEC notifications for precise ward lists, ensuring transparent polls by January 2026.
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