Maharashtra Local Body Elections Kick Off: Voting Underway for 12 Zilla Parishads, 125 Panchayat Samitis

Mumbai, Feb 7: Polling commenced on a brisk note on Saturday for 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis across 12 districts of Maharashtra, with a voter turnout of 7.80% recorded till 9:30 am.

The elections, initially scheduled for February 5, were postponed following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in an air crash on January 28 and the subsequent three days of state mourning.

High-profile voters kick off polling
Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, along with her son Parth Pawar, cast their votes at Katewadi village in Baramati. NCP leaders Jayant Patil and Rohit Pawar were also among early voters. Sunetra Pawar urged citizens to actively participate in the democratic process, emphasizing its importance for a brighter future.

Districts and election schedule
Polling is underway in the Zilla Parishads of Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv, and Latur, along with the Panchayat Samitis under their jurisdiction. Voting will continue until 5:30 pm, with counting scheduled from 10 am on February 9, after which the model code of conduct will be lifted.

Political significance for NCP factions
The elections are being seen as a litmus test for the two NCP factions, which have set aside a bitter two-year rivalry to contest in an informal alliance under the original ‘clock’ symbol in western Maharashtra strongholds. Observers note that the results could influence the potential reunification of the factions led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar’s successors.

While NCP veteran Praful Patel called the alliance a “tactical electoral consensus,” Jayant Patil described it as fulfilling Ajit Pawar’s last wish, initially expected to be formally announced on February 12.

Candidates and electorate
A total of 2,624 candidates are contesting 731 Zilla Parishad seats, including 369 reserved for women, 83 for Scheduled Castes, 25 for Scheduled Tribes, and 191 for OBCs. For Panchayat Samitis, 4,814 candidates are vying for 1,462 seats, with 731 reserved for women, 166 for SCs, 38 for STs, and 342 for OBCs.

The electorate consists of 1,06,33,269 men, 1,01,86,965 women, and 468 voters from other categories. Around 25,471 polling stations have been set up, with 1.28 lakh personnel deployed, including 125 returning officers and 125 assistant returning officers.

Voting process and EVMs
Voters will cast two votes  one for the Zilla Parishad constituency (white ballot papers) and another for the Panchayat Samiti division (pink ballot papers). The Election Commission has ensured adequate electronic voting machines, with 51,537 control units and 1,10,329 ballot units deployed, and officials trained for smooth polling.

These local body elections are being closely watched as a key indicator of grassroots political dynamics in Maharashtra post-Ajit Pawar.