The Maharashtra State Election Commission is expected to release a schedule for elections to 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis amid the ongoing Municipal Corporation election fervor in Maharashtra. These elections are anticipated to be held on February 5, as the state board exams for Class 12 commence on February 10. The Supreme Court has granted an extension to the SEC for conducting these elections beyond the initial January 31 deadline, setting a new deadline of February 15.
The SEC’s preparations for the zilla parishads and panchayat samitis are in full swing as the state focuses on municipal election campaigning. Elections for 32 Zilla Parishads and 336 Panchayat Samitis are pending in Maharashtra, with 20 zilla parishads and 211 panchayat samitis exceeding the 50% reservation limit. The SEC is prioritizing elections for the 12 districts and 125 panchayat samitis that adhere to the legal reservation limits.
The upcoming elections will cover districts across Pune Division, Konkan Division, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Division. The delay in these elections has been primarily due to the legal disputes over OBC quotas, following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the 27% OBC reservation in local bodies in 2021. These elections, often referred to as “Mini Assemblies,” play a significant role in gauging the sentiments of rural and semi-urban voters, influencing major alliances in Maharashtra for future state-level contests.
