Maharashtra Gears Up for Rural Power Test as Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti Polls Set for February 5

Mumbai: Maharashtra is preparing for a crucial round of rural local body elections, with voting for select Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis scheduled to take place on February 5. The counting of votes will be held on February 7, marking an important political moment for grassroots governance in the state.

State Election Commissioner Dinesh T. Waghmare announced that elections will be conducted in 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis where there are no legal hurdles related to the implementation of the 50 per cent reservation ceiling. Officials clarified that polls will move forward only in those regions that have met all constitutional and administrative requirements.

The districts where voting will be held include Raigarh, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv, and Latur. These elections are expected to significantly influence local political equations, especially ahead of future state-level contests.

Several other Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis remain excluded from the current election schedule due to pending legal proceedings. The matter concerning these bodies is currently before the Supreme Court, and election authorities have stated that a final decision on conducting polls in those areas will be taken only after the court delivers its verdict.

According to official data, nearly 2.09 crore voters will be eligible to participate in this phase of elections. The voter rolls updated as of July 1, 2025, will be used. Election officials have issued a strong warning against duplicate registrations, stating that strict action will be taken against individuals found voting more than once. Voters have been advised to verify their details using a dedicated mobile application or through the official election website.

The election process will begin with the filing of nomination papers from January 16 to January 21. Scrutiny of nominations is scheduled for January 22, while candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations until 3 pm on January 27. The final list of contestants, along with the allotment of election symbols, will be released later the same day.

Polling on February 5 will take place between 7:30 am and 5:30 pm, followed by vote counting from 10 am on February 7. With the declaration of the election programme, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect across all concerned districts, restricting policy announcements and administrative decisions until the completion of the electoral process.