Mumbai: Voting is underway today across Maharashtra for the general elections to 12 District Councils (Zilla Parishads) and 125 Panchayat Samitis under them. Polling began at 7:30 a.m. and will continue until 5:30 p.m., amid tight security arrangements.
The elections cover 731 seats in District Councils and 1,462 seats in Panchayat Samitis. A total of 7,438 candidates are contesting the polls, while the electorate stands at over 20.82 million voters, according to the State Election Commission.
Poll Schedule Revised
The election program for the 12 districts—Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv, and Latur—was announced on January 13, 2026.
Voting was originally scheduled for February 5, 2026, but was postponed following the sudden demise of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and the declaration of three days of state mourning. The vote count will take place on February 9, 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m., after which the model code of conduct will be lifted.
Seats and Reservations
Among the 731 District Council seats, 369 are reserved for women, 83 for Scheduled Castes, 25 for Scheduled Tribes, and 191 for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). A total of 2,624 candidates are contesting these seats.
The 1,462 Panchayat Samiti seats include 731 reserved for women, 166 for Scheduled Castes, 38 for Scheduled Tribes, and 342 for OBCs, with 4,814 candidates in the fray.
Voters, Polling Stations, and Staff
The electorate includes 10.63 million male voters, 10.18 million female voters, and 468 voters from other categories. Voting is being conducted at 25,471 polling stations across the state.
Nearly 128,000 personnel have been deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of elections, including around 125 Returning Officers and 125 Assistant Returning Officers.
EVM Arrangements and Voting Process
Adequate Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been arranged for all polling stations, including 51,537 control units and 110,329 ballot units. Officials and staff have undergone training to handle the voting process efficiently.
Voters are required to cast two votes—one for the District Council constituency and one for the Panchayat Samiti ward. Ballot units for District Council elections carry white ballot papers, while those for Panchayat Samiti elections are marked pink.
Voter Assistance and Facilities
The State Election Commission has launched the “Matadhikar” mobile app, allowing voters to check their names and polling station details using their name or EPIC number. Voters can also access the electoral roll through the official website.
Special arrangements have been made at polling stations for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and voters with young children. Facilities include ramps, wheelchairs, drinking water, electricity, shaded areas, and toilets.
Call for Participation
State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare has appealed to citizens to actively participate in the democratic process by exercising their right to vote.
“These local body elections play a crucial role in shaping the development of villages and surrounding areas,” officials said, urging voters to turn out in large numbers and strengthen grassroots democracy.
