The schedule for the general elections for 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis in Maharashtra has been altered due to the three-day state mourning following the sudden death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Originally set for February 5, the voting will now occur on February 7, with the counting of votes rescheduled to February 9, as confirmed by the State Election Commission (SEC). The SEC had initially announced the election program for these local bodies on January 13, encompassing districts like Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, and others.
The 12 zilla parishads, including Pune, Satara, Sangli, and more, along with the 125 panchayat samitis under them, were part of the election program outlined earlier. The initial stages of the election process, such as nominations, symbol allocation, and candidate lists, have been completed. The upcoming phases involve voting, counting, and the official announcement of winning candidates in the Government Gazette. The Supreme Court had granted a brief extension beyond January 31, 2026, for these elections, but the state mourning period from January 28 to January 30, 2026, led to revised dates.
In light of the mourning period for Ajit Pawar, changes have been implemented. The revised election notice will be published by concerned District Collectors on January 31, 2026. Voting is scheduled for February 7, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with campaigning ending by 10:00 p.m. on February 5, and vote counting starting at 10:00 a.m. on February 9, according to the SEC statement. The Model Code of Conduct will cease after the results are announced, and the names of elected members will be gazetted by February 11.
