The first round of Maharashtra’s local body elections were held on Tuesday, with the Bombay High Court pushing counting to December 21, delaying results and intensifying political friction across the state.
Maharashtra: Voters seen at a polling station as voting continues for the local body elections on Tuesday. (Pic courtesy: ANI)
Voting closed across Maharashtra on Tuesday evening following the first round of long-pending local body elections, an exercise being conducted under the Supreme Court’s deadline to complete all civic polls by January 31, 2026. The apex court had earlier underlined that local bodies must be run by elected representatives, not appointed administrators.
As per the State Election Commission, 35.05 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1:30 pm. Polling began at 7:30 am and continued until 5:30 pm.
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Reports said parties accused each other of malpractices during the conduct of polls. While voting largely remained peaceful, there were a few incidents of violence that took place in Mahad in Raigad, Akot in Akola and Muktainagar in Jalgaon, where rival party workers clashed with each other.
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Even as polling took place, the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court altered the election timetable. The court has ordered that every Nagar Parishad and Nagar Panchayat going to the polls, including those that voted today, must have their results declared together on December 21.
The ruling overrides the State Election Commission’s (SEC) plan to count votes on Wednesday. The court was responding to petitions raising concerns that announcing results for one set of bodies before others vote on December 20 could influence voter behaviour.
Exit polls will now be allowed only after voting closes on December 20, and the Model Code of Conduct will stay in force until the results are declared.
Tuesday’s polling covered 264 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats. Elections for larger civic bodies, including 29 municipal corporations such as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, are expected around mid-January. Dates for 32 zilla parishads and 336 panchayat samitis will be announced separately.
The main political contest is between the ruling Mahayuti alliance (BJP, Shiv Sena–Shinde and NCP–Ajit Pawar) and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress, Shiv Sena–UBT and NCP–Sharad Pawar). Parties such as the MNS, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana are also in the fray in various pockets.
The SEC had initially announced elections for 246 Nagar Parishads and 42 Nagar Panchayats on November 4. But verdicts on nomination appeals in several districts came after the SEC’s cut-off date, forcing the postponement of elections in 24 bodies and 154 wards to December 20.
The High Court’s latest order brings all these results under a single umbrella date.
The delay means Electronic Voting Machines will now remain sealed in strongrooms for nearly three extra weeks. District administrations must keep strongrooms and counting centres secured until December 21, with daily checks by election officials and continuous police deployment. The court has allowed candidates to retain their earlier election symbols but has rejected demands for higher expenditure limits.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the situation as unprecedented and criticised the procedural lapses that led to repeated rescheduling.
Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar alleged that the postponements were politically motivated and accused the government of distorting the Supreme Court’s directions.
Earlier, the Shiv Sena (UBT) had also attacked the SEC for pushing elections in several wards to December 20, calling the move a deliberate tactic.
To improve transparency, the SEC has flagged suspected duplicate entries in voter rolls with “double stars” and issued instructions for stricter ID checks at booths. This election cycle also follows the Supreme Court’s clearance for 27 per cent OBC reservation within the 50 per cent total reservation limit.
A mobile app carrying candidate details and affidavits has been launched to help voters verify information before voting.
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