The upcoming elections for Zilla Parishads (ZP) and Panchayat Samitis (PS) across Maharashtra could be headed for significant disruption and potential delays. This warning comes from retired election officials in the wake of the State Election Commission (SEC) recently halting the election process in several municipal councils and nagar panchayats.
The Trigger: A Critical Violation in Symbol Allotment
The SEC was forced to intervene and defer elections in multiple civic bodies to December 20 after discovering a serious procedural breach. The commission found that several Returning Officers (ROs) had allotted election symbols to candidates despite pending legal appeals against the scrutiny of their nomination papers. In some cases, appeals were decided too late or not heard at all by the district courts.
This premature symbol allotment rendered the entire process illegal, forcing the SEC to put the brakes on the scheduled polls. The action highlights a critical vulnerability in the current electoral framework that, according to experts, is not limited to urban local bodies.
Structural Flaws Threaten Larger Rural Polls
Retired election officials have pointed out that the same structural gaps exist within the rules governing the much larger Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections. They warn that without urgent corrective measures, these pivotal rural polls could face the same fate once their schedules are announced.
The root of the problem lies in the appeal process. "The appeal stage remains the most sensitive point in the entire election process. Even minor deviations can derail the entire election schedule," a former SEC official emphasized. The ambiguity in the rules creates a window for procedural missteps that can invalidate subsequent steps, like symbol allotment.
A Pending Solution from 2018
Interestingly, the SEC had identified this loophole years ago. Back in 2018, the commission wrote to the state government proposing specific amendments to the Zilla Parishad election rules. The goal was to remove ambiguities surrounding the appeal stage and create a watertight process to prevent such violations.
However, that proposal was not acted upon by the government. "If the government desires, the rules can be amended. Without this, the same issues will recur once ZP and Panchayat Samiti election schedules are announced. This is the right time for the government to take remedial measures," another retired official told the Times of India.
The officials unanimously stress that amending the rules is the only way to ensure a smooth and legally sound election process for the rural local bodies. They argue that tightening procedures now is essential to avoid last-minute chaos, legal challenges, and deferrals that undermine the democratic schedule.
