Voting has started across 264 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Maharashtra, marking the first phase of the 2025 local-body elections. Nearly one crore voters are eligible to cast ballots for 6,042 council seats and 264 council-president posts. Polling opened at 7:30 am and will continue until 5:30 pm today.
Officials originally planned to count votes on December 3. However — due to pending issues — the result date has now been rescheduled to December 21.
What Voters Are Choosing: Seats, Presidents, and More
- The elections cover 264 councils and nagar panchayats.
- Voters are deciding on over 6,000 seats for councillors and multiple council-president posts.
- Authorities say these elections will shape local governance across towns and cities statewide.
To conduct the polls smoothly, more than 12,300 polling stations have been set up. Over 62,000 polling staff remain on duty. The election uses electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Maharashtra Local Body Election 2025: New Result Date Announced
The counting of votes was earlier scheduled for December 3 but has now been postponed. The result date is officially shifted to December 21. The change comes after the election authorities addressed several pending legal and administrative matters.
This delay affects all municipal councils and nagar panchayats voting in this phase. Candidates, parties, and voters will now wait till December 21 for the outcome.
Public Holiday Declared for Voters
Maharashtra’s government has declared December 2 a paid holiday for workers. This applies to factories, shops, hotels, malls, IT firms, and other workplaces under the Labour Department’s jurisdiction.
Essential services must still operate, but employers must grant 2–3 hours’ leave for voting if they cannot allow a full-day holiday. The move aims to ensure voters can cast ballots without work constraints.
Why These Elections Matter
These random local body elections are the first major civic polls since the 2024 state assembly elections. Their results will provide insight into grassroots-level public sentiment.
For many towns, this is the first time in years they’ll elect local council members — making the outcome crucial for future local governance, development, and civic services.
What Voters Should Know Before Casting Their Vote
- Voting hours: 7:30 am to 5:30 pm today.
- Voting method: Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
- More than 62,000 polling staff are deployed statewide.
- Over 12,300 polling stations are ready to operate — suitable for nearly one crore voters.
- Paid holiday ensures workers can vote without sacrificing wages.
Looking Ahead: What This Phase Could Influence
The results of this first phase could set the tone for later rounds of local body polls across Maharashtra. Analysts will look at turnout and who wins to gauge public mood.
High voter participation or surprise wins may give momentum to certain parties. On the other hand, low turnout or poor performance could signal voter fatigue or dissatisfaction.
In any case, this phase will matter deeply for local administration, citizen services, and political trends at the grassroots level.
