Election Commission Clears Long-Pending Maharashtra Council Polls
The Election Commission of India on Monday formally announced elections for 16 seats of the Maharashtra Legislative Council representing Local Authorities’ Constituencies, ending a prolonged delay caused by incomplete civic body requirements across the state.
Polling for all constituencies will be conducted on June 18, 2026, while vote counting has been scheduled for June 22. The announcement is expected to intensify political activity across Maharashtra as major parties prepare for candidate selection and alliance discussions ahead of the high-profile Council elections.
Why The Elections Were Delayed
According to the poll panel, the elections could not be conducted earlier because several constituencies did not meet the mandatory conditions laid down for Local Authorities’ Constituency elections.
Under Election Commission norms, at least 75 percent of local bodies in a constituency must be functional, while a minimum of 75 percent of eligible electors must be available for the electoral process to proceed. The Commission stated that the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra has now confirmed compliance with these requirements in all pending constituencies.
Key Maharashtra Constituencies Going To Polls
The elections will take place across multiple politically significant regions, including Solapur, Ahmednagar, Thane, Jalgaon, Pune, Nashik and Nanded.
Other constituencies heading for polls are Sangli-cum-Satara, Yavatmal, Bhandara-cum-Gondia, Raigad-cum-Ratnagiri-cum-Sindhudurg, Wardha-cum-Chandrapur-cum-Gadchiroli, Amravati, Osmanabad-cum-Latur-cum-Beed, Parbhani-cum-Hingoli and Aurangabad-cum-Jalna.
Several influential leaders had previously represented these seats, including Prashant Paricharak, Chandubhai Patel and Ambadas Danve.
Full Election Schedule Released
The Election Commission said the official notification for the Council elections will be issued on May 25. Candidates will be able to file nominations until June 1, while scrutiny of nomination papers will be carried out on June 2.
The final date for withdrawal of nominations has been fixed for June 4.
Voting will be held on June 18 between 8 am and 4 pm. Counting of votes is scheduled for June 22, and the complete election process is expected to conclude by June 25.
The Commission also confirmed that the Model Code of Conduct has come into force immediately in all constituencies where elections are being conducted.
Nagpur Seat To Witness Separate By-Election
Alongside the biennial elections, the Election Commission also declared a by-election for the Nagpur Local Authorities’ Constituency seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.
The vacancy arose after Chandrashekhar Bawankule vacated the Council seat following his election to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 2024.
The bypoll had also remained pending due to incomplete local body and elector requirements. With the conditions now fulfilled, polling for the Nagpur seat will take place on June 18 along with the other Council elections.
The schedule for nomination filing, scrutiny, withdrawal and counting will remain identical to the main Legislative Council polls.
Political Activity Set To Intensify Across Maharashtra
The Council elections are expected to spark intense negotiations among major political parties and regional alliances in Maharashtra. Since elected representatives from municipal corporations, municipalities and local self-government institutions form the electoral college, these contests are considered politically strategic ahead of future state-level battles.
Political observers expect fierce competition in several constituencies where parties are looking to strengthen their organisational influence through the Upper House.
