Maharashtra Zilla Parishad & Panchayat Samiti Election Results 2026: Comprehensive Guide
The eagerly awaited results for the Maharashtra Zilla Parishad (ZP) and Panchayat Samiti elections of 2026 are poised for declaration, marking a significant moment in the state's local governance. Polling for these crucial grassroots bodies took place on Saturday, covering 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis across 12 key districts of Maharashtra.
Districts and Polling Details
The electoral exercise encompassed the districts of Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv, and Latur. In a bid to foster greater democratic participation, the state government declared a public holiday in the concerned constituencies, a move aimed at encouraging a higher voter turnout.
Vote Counting Schedule and Procedure
The counting of votes is scheduled to commence at 10 AM on Monday, February 9, 2026. Following the declaration of results, the Model Code of Conduct will be lifted in the affected areas. The State Election Commission has confirmed that the names of the elected members will be officially published in the Government Gazette by February 11, 2026, formalizing the outcomes.
Seat Distribution and Reservation
The electoral landscape features a total of 731 seats in the Zilla Parishads across Maharashtra. Of these, 369 seats are reserved for women, with additional reservations for Scheduled Castes (83 seats), Scheduled Tribes (25 seats), and Other Backward Classes (191 seats). Similarly, the Panchayat Samitis comprise 1,462 seats, with 731 reserved for women, and allocations for SC (166 seats), ST (38 seats), and OBC (342 seats).
Electorate and Campaign Dynamics
The electorate for these elections includes approximately 1.07 crore men, 1.02 crore women, and 473 other voters, who will determine the fate of candidates contesting for the 731 Zilla Parishad and 1,462 Panchayat Samiti seats. The campaign period was notably subdued following the tragic death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in an air crash on January 28. This event led to a state mourning from January 28 to 30, prompting the polling body to postpone the election from February 5 to 7.
In a unique political development, both the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the NCP (Sharad Pawar) faction have fielded candidates jointly, with many NCP (SP) nominees utilizing the NCP's clock symbol. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also maintained a low profile, canceling his scheduled campaign in Konkan after Pawar's demise, with state ministers and local MLAs from the BJP stepping in to engage voters.
Where to Check Live Results
For real-time updates and comprehensive coverage of the Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti election results, voters and observers can turn to reliable news platforms such as Indian Express online and their YouTube channel, which will provide live streaming and detailed analyses as the counting progresses.
Polling Incidents Under Investigation
The election process witnessed a few controversial incidents currently under probe. In Solapur district, a viral video showed a 14-year-old boy, son of candidate Arjun Sinh Mohite Patil, inside a polling booth and pressing an EVM button at Yashwant Nagar in Akluj. Mohite Patil clarified that the boy was merely curious about the voting process.
In another case, officials have ordered an inquiry after Shiv Sena MLA Vilas Bhumre was filmed taking his minor son into an EVM booth in Paithan taluka of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, with both their fingers marked with ink. District collector Dilip Swami has initiated an investigation following the video's circulation on social media, underscoring the importance of electoral integrity.
