
Voters queue outside a polling booth during Maharashtra’s municipal council and nagar panchayat elections (Photo: File)
A big round of local body elections is due in Maharashtra, with municipal councils and nagar panchayats across the state going to polls on December 2. The timing of the civic polls is politically charged, particularly after the Assembly results last year.
The day will not only test the abilities of the local leadership but also hint at how public sentiment is shifting, with over one crore eligible voters and thousands of seats in play. The government has declared a public holiday in the polling regions to ensure maximum participation, while the State Election Commission tightened rules related to campaigning and voting-day conduct.
These polls span across all six administrative divisions, which, all put together, represent the breadth of the state's urban and semi-urban landscape.
Each region has its own political mix and local priorities, adding to the complexity of the final outcome.
The polling will be held in 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats. There are 3,820 wards in these bodies and a total of 6,859 seats. A substantial number of seats is reserved for different categories to ensure representation.
Women account for 3,492 seats while 895 are reserved for Scheduled Castes, 338 for Scheduled Tribes and 1,821 for Other Backward Classes. The SEC has also fixed the campaign spending at 15 lakh for presidential candidates and 12 lakh for members.
The state’s voter list includes:
These voters will cast ballots at over 13,000 polling stations from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm. Counting takes place on the next day.
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Disclaimer: Information is based on official announcements available at the time of writing. Election rules and guidelines may change as updated by authorities.