Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation has indefinitely postponed the special general meeting scheduled for September 11 to select seven nominated members, with Mayor Ashwini Kamlesh Nikam citing a pending legal matter and the need for guidance from the Maharashtra government.
The postponement was announced on September 7, the day applications for the nominated positions were due to be filed. Municipal Commissioner Manisha Awahale said the election process had been stopped on the mayor’s instructions. Her letter did not specify the reason, but Nikam’s letter to the commissioner dated September 4 said lawyers before the Bombay High Court had indicated that the selection process was sub judice.
According to the mayor’s communication, the civic administration needs to understand the relevant legal issues and obtain appropriate directions from the state government before proceeding. She directed that the process remain suspended until the government and legal experts provide their opinion.
The selection of the seven members had remained pending since the Ulhasnagar civic elections held in January 2026. The corporation had fixed September 7 for filing nomination applications and September 11 for the special general meeting. The mayor’s decision has now put both stages on hold without setting a fresh date.
The issue also has a political dimension within the ruling alliance. Of the corporation’s 78 councillors, 77 belong to the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, meaning the seven nominated positions are expected to remain within the ruling grouping. However, changes in political equations have intensified competition among aspirants, according to the report.
The distribution of the positions has also been affected by the disqualification of two Shiv Sena members. The BJP currently has one more member than the Shiv Sena in the corporation, and the disqualifications could result in the BJP receiving an additional nominated position. The Shiv Sena has challenged the disqualifications, and a decision in that matter is awaited.
Shiv Sena house leader Arun Ashan said the selection had been postponed because the disqualification case involving the two members was before the court and the corporation needed both judicial clarity and government instructions. The party has also sought a delay in the selection until the disqualification matter is decided.
Political discussions have continued over differences between the Shiv Sena and BJP and the absence of a senior leader, with speculation that the alliance had not reached agreement on the names. The mayor’s stated reason for the postponement, however, is the legal uncertainty surrounding the process.
The selection is expected to be reconsidered after the state government provides its legal opinion and after the Ganesh festival. Until then, the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation will not proceed with the special general meeting or announce a new timetable for appointing the seven nominated members.
