Maharashtra Sets Date for Long-Awaited Rural Body Elections
The Maharashtra State Election Commission finally announced a schedule for delayed local body elections on Tuesday. Polling will take place on February 5, with vote counting scheduled for February 7. State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare issued the official notification.
Vidarbha Region Left Out of Current Poll Phase
Importantly, the entire Vidarbha region will not participate in this electoral round. None of its zilla parishads will go to polls now. The terms for Gondia and Bhandara ZPs only end in 2027, eliminating any possibility of elections there currently.
Of Maharashtra's total 34 zilla parishads, elections were notified for just 12. The remaining 22 have crossed their reservation cycle, making them ineligible at present. Consequently, this election phase will be confined to specific districts in three regions: Konkan, western Maharashtra, and Marathwada.
Polling Districts and Key Dates
The elections will cover these districts:
- Konkan division: Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg
- Pune division: Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Solapur
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv, Latur
The nomination process opens on January 16 and closes on January 21. Officials will scrutinize nominations on January 22. Candidates may withdraw their papers until 3 PM on January 27. Symbol distribution will occur after 3 PM that same day.
Massive Electoral Exercise with Legal Uncertainty
This election involves 12 district councils and 125 panchayat samitis, covering a substantial rural electorate. Officials estimate over 2 crore voters will be eligible, using electoral rolls prepared as of July 1, 2025. The same voter lists, divided for ZP and PS constituencies per rules, will be used without any additions or deletions.
Authorities are arranging approximately 25,482 polling stations. They expect over one lakh polling officers to manage the entire procedure. The model code of conduct took effect immediately in notified districts following the poll itinerary declaration.
However, a significant legal cloud hangs over the process. The Supreme Court extended the January 31 deadline for completing local body elections by two weeks just a day before this announcement. All elections and appointments remain subject to the court's final verdict.
Supreme Court Hearing and Infrastructure Details
The Supreme Court will hear crucial matters on January 21. The hearing will examine OBC reservation in local body elections, the 50% reservation ceiling, and the framework for reserving chairperson posts. Election Commission officials emphasized that any actions taken before the final ruling could be affected by the court's decision.
Authorities plan large-scale deployment of electronic voting machines, including ballot and control units. Polling stations will provide special facilities such as ramps, wheelchairs, drinking water, and toilets. These accommodations aim to assist senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and voters with infants.
Political Landscape and Preparations
Despite the legal uncertainty, political parties are expected to intensify their campaign preparations. Rural Maharashtra now heads into a closely watched electoral contest. The exclusion of Vidarbha and the pending Supreme Court ruling add unique dimensions to this election cycle.
The announcement comes after considerable delay, finally setting in motion a democratic process that will shape local governance across significant portions of Maharashtra's countryside.
