The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC), following reports of procedural lapses and ongoing court cases, has announced the postponement and revision of elections in over 20 Municipal Councils (Nagar
Parishads) and Municipal Panchayats (Nagar Panchayats).
The polls, originally scheduled for December 2, will now take place on December 20. In certain areas, the entire election process has been delayed due to legal disputes over the candidacy for council chief, while in others, voting in specific wards has been rescheduled.
According to the SEC’s directive, the suspension applies to Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats in approximately 20 districts, including Thane (Ambernath), Baramati, Amravati, Ahilyanagar, Nanded, Solapur, Yavatmal, Dharashiv, Chandrapur, Akola, and Pune.
The decision was made due to widespread glitches in the appeals process of candidates whose nomination papers were rejected. Under the Maharashtra Municipal Election Rules, 1966, all such appeals should have been resolved by November 22, giving candidates three days to withdraw their nominations, after which symbols would be distributed.
However, the process was disrupted in several affected municipal bodies. Symbols were distributed before appeal decisions were finalised, some appeal orders arrived late, and in some cases, appeals were still pending while officials were busy preparing the final candidate list and confirming symbols.
Finding these violations serious and legally unjust, the SEC stated that the election process in these wards had violated the required procedures. In its November 29 order, the commission directed that wherever such irregularities were found, they be immediately stopped. Only specific wards, or, where necessary, the entire municipal body, including the post of president, will follow the updated schedule.
The commission also reprimanded election officials for ignoring the established rules despite clear guidelines.
According to the updated schedule, candidates will now have until December 10 to withdraw their nominations. The final list of contesting candidates and the allotment of symbols will be completed on December 11. Voting will take place on December 20 between 7.30am and 5.30pm, and counting will take place on December 21. The official results will be notified in the official gazette by December 23.
Reacting to the commission’s move, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said: “The Election Commission works independently. Some opposition members met them, after which they talked to the collector and postponed the elections in some places. Now these elections will be held on December 20, but my personal opinion is that postponing the elections a day before is not right.”
Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde echoed the sentiment, saying once the election process begins, stopping it is not appropriate. “Unfortunately, this has happened in the state. I am gathering information on the matter and will speak to the media about it later.”
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