The second phase of civic body elections in Maharashtra concluded smoothly on Saturday, with voters across 23 municipal councils and nagar panchayats casting their ballots to elect 143 representatives. The polling process remained largely peaceful across all districts, with the final voter turnout estimated to be between 60 and 65 percent.
Peaceful Polling and Voter Participation
State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare confirmed the orderly conduct of the elections, stating that no incidents of violence or disruption were reported from any polling station. The final, official polling percentage was still being compiled from booth-wise data by returning officers and was scheduled for announcement on Sunday. This phase followed the first round of voting held on December 2, which saw a turnout of 67.6% across 263 civic bodies.
In a notable development, elections were not required in two local bodies—the Angar Municipal Council in Solapur district and the Dondaicha Municipal Council in Dhule district—as candidates were elected unopposed. The State Election Commission has officially taken note of these results.
Focus on Pune District's Key Councils
Within Pune district, the polls for the Baramati and Phursungi-Uruli Devachi municipal councils were conducted without any issues. District Collector Jitendra Dudi provided updates throughout the day, noting an approximate 45% turnout in these areas by the afternoon. By 9 PM, the final polling percentage for the district's seats was confirmed at 63.02%.
Specifically, the Baramati Municipal Council recorded a robust 67% voter participation, while Phursungi-Uruli Devachi saw a turnout of 59.7%. Elections were also held for select seats in Daund, Lonavala, and Talegaon Dabhade.
Elaborate Arrangements for Vote Counting
All attention now shifts to Sunday, when the counting of votes will take place. This process will cover the results for a total of 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats whose elections were held across both phases on December 2 and December 20.
The State Election Commission has issued necessary instructions to all district administrations to ensure the counting process is smooth, transparent, and secure. District authorities statewide have made extensive arrangements, including the deployment of substantial police forces and election staff, to guarantee peaceful counting at all designated centers.
The successful and peaceful conclusion of this electoral exercise underscores the public's engagement in local governance and sets the stage for the formation of new civic administrations across Maharashtra.
