India, Aug. 5 -- The Supreme Court on Monday directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct local body elections according to the number of wards in 2017 and the new structure of wards being finalised by the state government. The court also clarified that the OBC reservation prevailing before the submission of the Banthia Commission report in July 2022 will be considered for the local body elections, expected to be held from November.

The ruling, made while hearing a case filed by a former chairperson of the Ausa municipal council in Latur district, is a relief for the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra on three major fronts -ward formation, number of wards, and the OBC quota. The OBC-quota-related ruling of 27% OBC seats i...