The BMC has received a total of 25 responses following its electoral ward delineation and reservations exercise conducted on October 3. Civic sources said a large number of Mumbaikars are concerned about Schedule Caste (SC) or Schedule Tribe (ST) candidates representing them as most complaints are related to the reservation of seats.

Sanjog Kabare, an assistant municipal commissioner who was involved in the exercise, said, “Many complaints pertain to ward reservation for an SC or ST candidate. People have said that there is hardly any SC or ST population in their wards, so there is no need for reservation. They have also suggested that their wards need not be reserved for women, as they were previously reserved for women two elections ago.”

Another civic official said on condition of anonymity the BMC suspects that politicians have instigated people to send particular kinds of suggestions and objections. He said, “I don’t think Mumbaikars would mind that a ward is reserved for women, or for an SC or ST candidate. We expected people would write in about delineation. But affected corporators may have asked someone to suggest withdrawing a particular reservation.”

Yet another civic source said there is little that the BMC can do about ward reservations, as they are decided by lottery and in the presence of the election commission. The BMC will consider those responses pointing out mistakes in the ward boundaries.