Maharashtra Local Elections Postponed Following Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's Demise
The State Election Commission (SEC) of Maharashtra has officially rescheduled polling dates for local body elections across the state in the wake of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's tragic death. The elections for 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis will now be held on February 7, shifting from the earlier date of February 5.
Revised Election Schedule and Official Announcement
In a statement issued on Thursday evening, the SEC confirmed that the counting of votes has also been deferred from February 7 to February 9. This decision follows the state government's declaration of a mourning period from January 28 to 30 after Pawar's sudden demise in a plane crash in Baramati on Wednesday morning.
The election schedule was originally notified on January 13, with all major preparatory stages already completed:
- Filing and withdrawal of nominations
- Allotment of symbols
- Publication of the final list of candidates
Only polling, counting of votes, and notification of elected representatives in the government gazette remained pending before this rescheduling.
Political Implications and NCP's Position
The rescheduling comes as the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) planned to approach the SEC seeking postponement of elections following Pawar's death. Party leaders expressed that electioneering had come to a complete halt after the tragedy, leaving only three to four effective days for campaigning once the mourning period concludes.
A senior NCP member revealed to media sources that resuming campaign activity immediately after losing a leader of Pawar's stature was extremely challenging. "The cadre is devastated. There is neither emotional nor organisational readiness to campaign," the politician stated.
Ajit Pawar was scheduled to address several rallies in Baramati on Wednesday, with an extensive campaign plan involving star campaigners already finalized for the districts going to polls. However, party officials described the two-day extension as "not very encouraging" for meaningful campaign recovery.
Geographical Scope and Legal Framework
The zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections are being conducted across 12 districts of Maharashtra:
- Five districts in the Pune division
- Three districts in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division
- Four districts in the Raigad division
NCP members cited provisions under the Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti Rules, 1962 to support their demand for a longer postponement. A party official referenced Rule 11(2)(a), which empowers district collectors to alter polling dates in public interest, subject to SEC directions. However, the official noted that a change of only two to three days might not provide substantial relief.
Previous SEC Decisions and Administrative Constraints
Earlier, the SEC had declined to defer the same elections despite requests related to the annual Mayakka temple fair at Chinchali in Karnataka's Belagavi district, which attracts numerous devotees from Maharashtra. At that time, the commission cited statutory provisions and logistical challenges connected to board examinations.
In a written statement earlier this month, the SEC emphasized that the election program had been finalized strictly according to the 1962 rules. The commission highlighted that higher secondary certificate examinations begin on February 10, requiring exam centers to be handed over by February 8, making further rescheduling administratively difficult.
Detailed Revised Election Schedule
The SEC has outlined the complete revised timeline for the local body elections:
- January 31: District collectors to issue fresh notifications
- February 7: Polling from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
- February 5: Campaigning ends at 10:00 PM
- February 9: Counting of votes from 10:00 AM
- After results: Model code of conduct to be lifted
- February 11: Names of elected members to be notified in state gazette
This comprehensive rescheduling reflects the SEC's attempt to balance administrative requirements with the extraordinary circumstances created by the sudden loss of a key political figure in Maharashtra's political landscape.
