The Supreme Court allowed the Maharashtra State Election Commission to postpone the forthcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections after a hearing on Monday, January 12.
Earlier, the Maharashtra State Election had approached the Supreme Court and sought 10 more days to complete the local body election process.
Accordingly, the Supreme Court has given a 15-day extension to the Maharashtra State Election Commission to postpone Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, directing it to complete the elections by February 15, 2026.
The Supreme Court had set a deadline for all local body elections in the state to be held before January 31.
However, after a dispute about providing OBCs 27 per cent of reservation, the court had ordered that all local body elections be held within the 50 per cent reservation limit.
In the same order, it was also stated that elections be held only in those zila parishad and panchayat samitis which comply with the 50 per cent reservation limit.
As things stand, the second phase of the municipal elections in Maharashtra will be held on January 15.
The Maharashtra State Election Commission had prepared to hold 12 Zila Parishad and 125 Panchayat Samiti elections, which comply with the 50 per cent reservation limit under them, in the first week of February 2026.
The commission had failed to hold about 20 parishads out of the 32, complying with the 50 per cent limit, while conducting elections.
Since all the reserved locations were in Vidarbha and Marathwada, the state commission decided against holding elections there until the reservations issue was resolved.
Reportedly, there is also a shortage of EVMs due to the municipal elections.