Election Process Grinds to Halt Across Maharashtra
The State Election Commission (SEC) has brought local body elections across Maharashtra to an abrupt halt after discovering serious procedural violations in the allotment of poll symbols to candidates. The commission found that returning officers had illegally assigned election symbols to candidates whose appeals against nomination scrutiny were either pending, decided late, or not heard at all by district courts.
Widespread Rule Violations Uncovered
In a significant order issued on Saturday, the SEC declared all symbol allotments made on or after November 26 in such cases as illegal. The commission identified a clear violation of election rules, specifically highlighting that returning officers proceeded with symbol allocation without providing the mandatory three-day withdrawal window to candidates.
SEC Secretary Suresh Kakani stated in the official communication that despite appeals being decided on or after November 23, many cases lacked written orders or proper hearings. The irregular handling of appeals, delayed rulings, missing written decisions, unheard matters, and ongoing court cases had collectively compromised the integrity of the entire election process.
Revised Election Schedule Implemented
The commission has directed district collectors to compile comprehensive lists of all affected seats and municipal bodies. They must certify that Rule 17(1)(b) of the Maharashtra Municipal Election Rules, 1966 was not followed and implement a completely revised election schedule. Collectors have been instructed to submit certified lists to the SEC immediately and ensure wide publicity of the new timetable.
Originally, the election program for 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats was announced on November 4. According to the rules, candidates dissatisfied with returning officers' decisions on nomination scrutiny could file appeals before district courts, with November 22 set as the deadline for decisions to allow the mandatory three-day withdrawal period.
Pune District Among Worst Affected
Pune Collector Jitendra Dudi has submitted a detailed report confirming that elections in six of the district's 17 municipal councils and nagar panchayats must be postponed. The affected councils include Baramati, Phursungi–Uruli Devachi, Talegaon Dabhade, Lonavla, Daund, and Saswad.
In Baramati and Phursungi–Uruli Devachi, appeals concerning the chairman's post were decided only on November 26, well past the deadline. Consequently, elections for the entire councils have been postponed to December 20. Several ward-level appeals in these councils also faced similar delays.
Specific member seats in four other councils will also see delayed polling. Elections for seats in Talegaon Dabhade, Lonavla, Daund, and Saswad will now occur on December 20. The commission has clarified that no fresh nominations will be accepted for postponed chairman or member seats, though candidates may withdraw nominations until 3 PM on December 10.
Marathwada Region Also Impacted
The election disruption extends to Marathwada region, where local poll officials have postponed December 2 polls for several local self-governing bodies. In Nanded district, elections for Mukhed and Dharmabad municipal councils have been rescheduled to December 20. Additional delays affect specific wards in Bhokar, Loha, and Kundalwadi municipal councils.
Hingoli district sees the Vasmat municipal council election postponed to December 20, along with two wards from Hingoli municipal council. Parbhani district experiences delays for two wards in Purna municipal council and one ward in Jintur municipal council. Beed district faces postponements for four wards each in Ambajogai and Parli municipal councils, plus one ward each in Beed and Kille Dharur local bodies.
The SEC has made it clear that elections for affected member seats stand postponed indefinitely. In cases where appeals concern chairman posts, elections for entire municipal councils or nagar panchayats have been deferred. District collectors have received strict instructions not to conduct polling for these bodies under the original November 4 schedule.
