Elections to 12 Zilla Parishads (ZPs) and 125 Panchayat Samitis in Maharashtra will be held on February 5, with counting of votes scheduled for February 7, a senior official of the State Election Commission (SEC) said on Tuesday.
The election schedule was announced a day after the Supreme Court extended the January 31 deadline for completing the local body election process by two weeks, paving the way for the long-pending rural polls.
With SEC Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare announcing the programme at a press conference, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect across the concerned districts.
Polling Details
Polling will be conducted from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm on February 5 across nearly 25,482 polling stations, covering Zilla Parishads in 12 districts and their corresponding Panchayat Samitis.
Nomination and Election Schedule
According to the SEC:
- Nomination filing: January 16 to January 18
- Scrutiny of nominations: January 19
- Last date for withdrawal: January 21
- Symbol allotment and final candidate list: January 22
- Polling day: February 5
- Counting of votes: February 7
Voter List and Voting Process
The voter list prepared by the Election Commission of India as on July 1, 2025, will be used for the elections. The voter rolls have been bifurcated separately for Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti constituencies, as per rules. No additions or deletions can be made at this stage, Waghmare said.
The SEC will deploy Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), including ballot units and control units, in large numbers to ensure smooth polling.
Facilities for Voters
Special arrangements will be made at polling stations for:
- Senior citizens
- Persons with disabilities
- Pregnant women
- Voters with infants
Facilities will include ramps, wheelchairs, drinking water, and toilets. In areas with a high concentration of women voters, all-women polling stations will be set up wherever feasible.
Administrative Arrangements and Code of Conduct
The commission has made extensive administrative preparations, including the appointment of thousands of election officers and staff. Expenditure limits for candidates have been fixed separately for Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti constituencies, depending on the size of the electoral divisions.
Waghmare warned that strict action will be taken against violations of the Model Code of Conduct, adding that campaigning must end 48 hours before polling begins.