Maha Govt faces backlash over scrapping medical council elections

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has triggered a major political and medical controversy after deciding to abolish elections to the Maharashtra Medical Council and replace them with a nomination-based appointment system. The decision has drawn strong opposition from doctors’ associations and medical professionals across the state. 

The move comes shortly after a panel backed by the ruling BJP performed poorly in the recent MMC elections.

Also Read:Maharashtra Medical Council polls held after 10-year gap, results on April 29

According to recent reports, the Maharashtra government has changed the law so that members of the Maharashtra Medical Council will no longer be chosen through elections by doctors. Instead, the government will appoint them directly, reports the Daily Hunt.

Under the existing structure, the MMC consists of 18 members—nine elected directly by registered medical practitioners and nine nominated by the state government. The new amendment changes this balance fundamentally by scrapping elections altogether and moving to a fully nomination-based system. The government also plans to expand the council to 23 members.

Officials have justified the decision by stating that the revised structure aims to improve “efficiency” and bring the council’s functioning closer in line with the National Medical Commission (NMC) framework. Doctors’ groups and senior medical professionals have strongly criticised the timing and intent of the move.

The decision has sparked controversy primarily due to its timing. In the recently held MMC elections, the “Official IMA MMC Panel” supported by BJP-backed groups suffered a significant setback, while the rival “IMA Members Panel” won eight seats.

Critics say the government is trying to take political control of an independent medical body by stopping elections. Earlier, the Maharashtra government had tried to stop the MMC elections, and the matter reached the Supreme Court. But the court refused to stop the polls and ordered that the elections should happen as planned. This decision had given relief to doctors' groups that wanted the elections to continue, reports Daily Hunt. 

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that after some members of the Maharashtra Medical Council raised concerns over the removal of nearly 72,000 doctors from the voters’ list ahead of the upcoming elections, former members have now pointed to political interference and internal rifts within the medical community as the polling date approaches.

Medical associations have warned that replacing elected representatives with government nominees could lead to excessive administrative control over the council. They fear this may compromise the autonomy of the MMC and reduce its role as an independent regulatory and professional body.

In the latest MMC elections, Dr. Sanjay Kadam from Nanded emerged as the highest vote-getter. In Pune, Dr. Sunil Ingle secured a win, while another candidate, Dr. Sanjay Patil, narrowly lost by just three votes—highlighting a closely contested electoral outcome.

Also Read:Maha Medical Council Elections Row: Former members allege political interference