Dhule Reserved Seats 2026: SC ST OBC Women Ward List and Reservation Details for Dhule Elections
The Dhule Municipal Corporation elections, scheduled for January 15, 2026, feature a structured reservation system for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and women across its 74 seats. This process ensures representation for marginalized groups and promotes gender balance in local governance.
Election Schedule and Process Overview
Maharashtra’s State Election Commission has set polling for 29 municipal corporations, including Dhule, on January 15, 2026, with vote counting on January 16, 2026. Nomination filings run from December 23 to 30, 2025, followed by scrutiny on December 31 and withdrawal deadline on January 2, 2026. The Supreme Court has mandated completion of all local body polls by January 31, 2026, emphasizing timely execution.
Ward reservations in Dhule were determined through a transparent draw of lots at Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Natya Mandir, involving representatives from political parties. This mirrors processes in other corporations like Nashik, Jalgaon, and Malegaon. The lists, covering 301 seats across Dhule, Jalgaon, Ahilyanagar, and Malegaon, await final approval from the State Election Commission. Objections can be filed with the corporations, which will address them before official notification.
Reservation Breakdown in Dhule Municipal Corporation
Dhule Municipal Corporation comprises 74 seats, restructured into a multi-member ward system similar to Nashik’s four-member wards. Of these, 37 seats—exactly 50%—are reserved for women, aligning with state policies that also allow women to contest unreserved seats. This reservation spans categories to foster inclusive decision-making.
Category-wise details include:
- Six seats for women specifically from SC (three seats) and ST (three seats), prioritizing underrepresented communities.
- 10 seats reserved in the OBC category for women.
- 21 seats in the general category reserved for women.
These figures reflect a balanced approach, with SC, ST, and OBC reservations drawn proportionally based on population data, conducted via lottery for fairness. The remaining seats follow general category norms, subject to the women’s quota overlay.
Ward-Wise Reservation Details
While exact ward numbers and final mappings are pending State Election Commission approval, the draw has finalized preliminary allocations. Dhule’s 74 seats are distributed across wards, with reservations applied per ward. For instance, patterns from similar corporations show SC and ST seats clustered in areas with higher concentrations of these populations, while OBC and women reservations are spread evenly.
Political parties must now adapt strategies to these reservations. In past polls like Nashik 2017, reservations influenced outcomes, with independents and smaller parties securing seats in reserved categories. Dhule’s process ensures transparency, as confirmed by officials, reducing disputes. Final ward lists, once approved, will be published on the Maharashtra State Election Commission website, detailing each ward’s category—SC, ST, OBC, women (open/general), or combinations thereof.
Voters can access draft electoral rolls, updated and published on December 15, 2025, via the SEC portal. The Model Code of Conduct is active, restricting government ads and ensuring level playing fields.
Implications for Candidates and Voters
Reservations shape candidacy: only eligible candidates from reserved categories can contest those seats, verified during nomination scrutiny. Women reservations, at 50%, have historically boosted female participation, as seen in Malegaon (42 of 84 seats) and Jalgaon (50% of 75). In Dhule, the six SC/ST women seats and 10 OBC women seats highlight focus on intersectional representation.
For voters, this means ward-specific choices aligned with demographics. Parties like BJP, Shiv Sena, and others in Mahayuti alliances are gearing up, with seat-sharing discussions underway in larger corporations like BMC. Dhule’s polls will elect corporators for five-year terms, influencing urban development, infrastructure, and services in the city.
The process underscores Maharashtra’s commitment to constitutional mandates under Articles 243K and 243ZA, supervised by the SEC. Jayant Kumar Banthia Commission’s OBC data informs quotas, ensuring data-driven equity. As objections are resolved, the final list will clarify precise ward assignments, enabling focused campaigns.
Broader Context in Maharashtra Civic Polls
Dhule joins 28 other corporations, from BMC to smaller bodies like Ichalkaranji, in this statewide exercise electing 2,869 corporators. Nashik reserves 18 SC, nine ST, and 32 OBC seats; Jalgaon has four ST, five SC, and 19 OBC. Uniform 50% women reservation prevails, promoting diversity.
Stakeholders anticipate intensified preparations post-reservation finalization. Transparent draws and objection windows mitigate challenges, setting the stage for competitive, representative elections in Dhule.
(Word count: 712)
