The democratic process at the grassroots level in Maharashtra is set to begin, with the first phase of the crucial local body elections scheduled for 2 December 2025. The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) is overseeing the entire exercise, which will utilize Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) across all polling stations. The counting of votes and declaration of results for this initial phase will follow swiftly on 3 December 2025.
Polling Process and Key Timelines
Voting for municipal councils and nagar panchayats in the first phase will be held from morning to evening, with the exact hours to be formally announced by the SEC. The commission has already completed the critical nomination process, which saw candidates filing their papers between 10 and 17 November. Scrutiny was conducted on 18 November, and the window for withdrawal of nominations and appeals concluded by 25 November.
To ensure a smooth and fair election, the Model Code of Conduct is already in force. The SEC is deploying thousands of polling staff and security personnel across the constituencies. This phase involves a substantial electorate, with approximately 1.07 crore (10.7 million) registered voters eligible to cast their ballot.
Seats and Subsequent Phases
In this first round, voters will decide the fate of candidates contesting for a total of 6,859 member seats and 288 chairperson posts in various local bodies. The SEC has conducted ward delimitation and is using accurate voter lists provided by the Election Commission of India to manage the process.
Following this phase, the electoral calendar will proceed to cover other tiers of local governance. Subsequent phases will include elections for zilla parishads, panchayat samitis, and municipal corporations. The entire process for all local body polls in the state must be completed by 31 January 2026, as mandated by the Supreme Court of India.
What Voters Need to Know
All polling stations will be equipped with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the voting process. The SEC has urged all eligible voters to participate actively in strengthening local democracy. The results declared on 3 December will set the political tone for the administration of numerous municipal councils and nagar panchayats across Maharashtra.
This election is a significant event for the state's political landscape, as local bodies play a pivotal role in day-to-day governance and development at the community level. All eyes will now be on the voter turnout and the outcomes that will shape local leadership for the coming term.
