Maharashtra Local Body Elections Postponed Following Deputy CM's Tragic Death
The State Election Commission (SEC) of Maharashtra announced a significant rescheduling of local body elections on Thursday, moving polling for 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis across the state to February 7 from the originally planned date of February 5. This decision comes in the wake of the tragic demise of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash in Baramati on Wednesday morning. Additionally, the counting of votes has been deferred from February 7 to February 9, providing a two-day extension to the electoral process.
Political Campaigning Grinds to a Halt
The rescheduling follows the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) intention to approach the SEC seeking postponement of elections after Pawar's untimely death. Party leaders emphasized that electioneering activities had come to a complete standstill following the tragedy, leaving only three to four effective days for campaigning once the mourning period concludes. A senior NCP member revealed to media sources that resuming campaign activities immediately after losing a leader of Pawar's stature presents immense challenges.
"The cadre is devastated. There is neither emotional nor organisational readiness to campaign. Ajit Pawar was scheduled to address several rallies in Baramati on Wednesday, and an extensive campaign plan involving star campaigners had been finalised for the districts going to polls," the politician stated. However, the two-day extension was described as "not very encouraging" given the circumstances.
Election Districts and Immediate Reactions
The zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections are being conducted across 12 districts in Maharashtra, including five in the Pune division, three in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, and four in the Raigad division. In Kabnur village of Hatkanangle tehsil in Kolhapur district, a scheduled political corner meeting was transformed into a shok sabha, with party workers and local residents gathering to mourn Pawar's passing. Similarly, in Sangli district's Renapur, a BJP rally was cancelled and concluded with the formal introduction of candidates, followed by two minutes of silence as a tribute to the late leader.
Later on Thursday, leaders from all political parties in Sangli district collectively decided to suspend campaigning activities. This pause extended through the day as numerous local leaders, particularly from NCP, NCP (SP), and Congress, traveled to Baramati to attend Pawar's funeral ceremonies.
Campaign Adjustments and Political Cancellations
Jyoti Patil, a BJP candidate from Vategaon in Sangli district, acknowledged the limited time remaining for campaigning. "We are aware that there is very little time left for the campaign. We will resume only low-key campaigning for a day or two in keeping with the state mourning," Patil remarked. Senior politicians across party lines also cancelled their scheduled rallies in response to the tragedy.
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had planned to launch the ZP election campaign from the Konkan region on Monday, with subsequent rallies in Solapur, Sangli, Satara, and Kolhapur, all of which were called off.
- Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who had already addressed rallies for Shiv Sena in Satara, postponed his subsequent programs.
- Padmakar Jagdale, NCP Sangli city president, noted that two rallies were arranged for Ajit Pawar in Miraj and Tasgaon. "Now, we are not in a mental state to step out and ask for votes. This election will be held without the usual intensity of campaigning," he expressed.
Statewide Mourning and Tributes
Following Ajit Pawar's demise, several villages observed voluntary bandhs, with residents gathering to pay floral tributes amidst large hoardings commemorating the late leader. In Nashik district, multiple Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) and local markets remained closed on Thursday as a mark of respect.
- In Yeola tehsil, traders voluntarily shut their establishments, and the Yeola APMC also remained closed.
- Similar closures were reported from various parts of Ahilyanagar district.
- In Beed, shops remained closed on Wednesday as a tribute, with some resuming operations on Thursday.
Activists in Nashik city paid homage to Ajit Pawar at Tapovan, a site central to controversy over the Nashik Municipal Corporation's proposal to fell trees for developing a Sadhugram ahead of the Kumbh Mela. They recalled Pawar's firm opposition to the tree-cutting plan and offered floral tributes in recognition of his support. Barring sporadic events, campaigning for ZP polls in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and other districts from the region came to a standstill on Thursday, with many leaders traveling to Baramati in Pune to attend Pawar's last rites.
