The first phase of elections for municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Maharashtra concluded on Tuesday with an impressive display of democratic participation. Election officials estimated that the final voter turnout could comfortably cross the 60% mark, as citizens across various districts queued up in large numbers to elect their representatives to 264 local bodies.
Strong Polling Across Key Districts
While the final consolidated figures were awaited, the statewide polling percentage stood at 48% by 3:30 PM, as per official data. The momentum, however, picked up significantly in the evening hours. Pune district emerged as a frontrunner, with an estimated 68% of its 4,51,025 registered voters casting their ballots across 12 municipal councils and three nagar panchayats.
Within Pune, the voter enthusiasm varied. Indapur registered the highest turnout at a remarkable 80%, while Talegaon Dabhade recorded the lowest at 49.2%. Junnar, an area grappling with public anger over leopard attacks, saw a respectable 68.4% participation. Preliminary data indicated that 10 out of the 15 local bodies in the district registered over 70% turnout, nearly matching the 71% figure from the previous elections.
Kolhapur district lived up to its reputation for high electoral participation, leading the state with 79% voting across 13 nagar parishads. The enthusiasm was so high that in Jaysingpur town, 14 out of 54 booths still had voters waiting in line even after the official poll closing time. Authorities issued tokens and ensured proper lighting to allow all queued voters to exercise their franchise.
Incidents, EVM Glitches, and Political Dynamics
The election day was not without its share of controversies and technical issues. Several instances of EVM glitches and minor altercations between party workers were reported at various polling booths. In more serious incidents, stone-pelting was reported in Georai town of Beed district between BJP and NCP workers. Clashes also occurred between Shiv Sena and NCP workers in Roha and Mahad in Raigad district.
The Congress party complained of bogus voting in Buldhana, while MP Raksha Khadse filed a complaint against Shiv Sena MLA Chandrakant Patil for entering a polling booth wearing his party's scarf. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar took to social media platform X to state that "violence has no place in our democracy" and emphasized the right to vote without fear.
These elections, held for some bodies after almost a decade, saw unusual political alignments. Rivals joined hands in some constituencies to take on the BJP, while the Mahayuti alliance partners—BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP—pitched candidates against each other in other places, indicating complex local political equations.
Regional Turnout Breakdown and Key Figures
Polling began at 7:30 AM and was scheduled to conclude by 5:30 PM, though it was extended by an hour at booths where EVMs had to be replaced. The voting pace was brisk, with 17.1% polling reported by 11:30 AM, improving to 35% by 1:30 PM.
In the Nashik division, which includes five districts, a 47% turnout was recorded by 3:30 PM for 42 local bodies. Early estimates for six municipal councils in Nashik district itself were over 60% by 5:30 PM, with Trimbakeshwar leading at 85.7%.
Marathwada region recorded an average 50% turnout by the afternoon, with Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar reporting around 55%. Other districts in the region also saw over 50% participation. Sangli district witnessed 58% polling for eight municipal councils by 3:30 PM, while Satara and Solapur districts reported 49% turnout in their respective nagar parishads.
Nearly one crore voters were eligible to elect 6,042 members and 264 presidents in this phase. The turnout marks a significant civic engagement, standing in comparison to the 61.3% recorded during last year's Lok Sabha elections and the 66% during the state assembly polls in November.
