The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government and the State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct local body elections across the state no later than January 31 2026, reported the IANS.

The apex court bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi pulled up the state authorities for failing to comply with an earlier directive, which had required the polls to be held within four months -- by August 2025 -- following the restoration of seats for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to their status prior to the 2022 J.K. Banthia Commission changes.