Mumbai: Officials from the state election commission (SEC) said on Tuesday that they would be able to complete the preparations to hold elections by Sept. They will, though, have to consult the weather bureau on whether elections can be held at a time when the monsoon has not fully receded, said officials.Politicians are expecting the local body polls, including the BMC election, to be held after the monsoon and the festive season, by Oct-Nov.“The SC verdict says the govt can seek some more time for the polls. Generally, polls are avoided in Mumbai even in Sept because the monsoon continues till then. I feel the polls will be conducted after the monsoon and Diwali,” a Congress politician said.Initially, local body polls were delayed on account of the Covid lockdown. Then, court cases regarding the OBC quota and the number of wards in civic bodies added to the inordinate delay. The terms of 27 municipal corporations in the state expired three to five years ago, and these are being run by administrators.In 2021, the apex court struck down the 27% OBC quota in local bodies on the grounds that when combined with the SC and ST quota, it crossed the 50% quota cap.In 2022, the apex court accepted the report of the Banthia commission, which recommended an OBC quota of up to 27% in local bodies. The quota would differ for each local body depending on the quota for SCs and STs and the population of OBCs, with the final quota not exceeding 50% for all three groups. Subsequently, the court asked for the status quo on the OBC quota to be maintained.Another case relates to the number of wards in civic bodies. The MVA govt increased the number of wards from 227 to 236. In 2022, the Shinde govt reversed the number once again to 227.“We are waiting to see the details of the SC verdict. The process of ward formation has been completed for 236 wards. If the figure is reduced to 227, we will have to make changes and invite suggestions and objections,” said an SEC official.In addition, the SEC will have to hold lotteries to reserve wards for women and OBC candidates. “This will also take some time. But we expect the process to be completed by Sept,” an SEC official said.