The local body polls - expected to be held in 2022 - are being conducted this year. According to experts, the code of conduct is likely to come into effect in next 2-3 days when the poll schedule will be announced. The local body elections in the State will be held in three phases, said a senior officer of State Election Commission. The Supreme Court had ordered to hold the local body elections, delayed for two and a half to three years, within four months. Therefore, the Commission intends to hold the elections now.

 

Also, the Supreme Court has made it clear that the election programme should end by January 31 and no extension would be allowed. The reason behind Government’s move to hold elections in three phases, is that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are not in adequate number. After the Supreme Court’s decision, the State Election Commission has started preparations for the elections to the Municipal Corporation, Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti, Municipal Council. Twenty-nine Municipal Corporations will go to polls in one phase, Nagar Panchayat and Municipal Council will have a single phase and Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls will be conducted in one separate phase.

 

 

The ward structure of the relevant local self-government bodies has been finalised, while reservation will be out on November 11. Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare, refused to reveal the dates of the schedule, but he told ‘The Hitavada’ that, it takes 30 days to complete one local body poll, which means all three elections will be completed in three months. Now the election expenses have been raised by one and half times. Till last election, the expenditure limit for candidates for Municipal Corporation was Rs 10 lakh, while for ZP candidate, it was Rs 6 lakh. 

 

 

Former minister and senior leader of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Ajit Pawar) Dilip Walse Patil on Monday ‘announced’ the dates for local body elections in a programme held at Manchar. The clip of his speech has gone viral on social media. Walse-Patil said that as per his assumption, voting for Zilla Parishad elections will be held on December 15, while Municipal Corporation polls will take place on January 15, 2026. According to Walse-Patil, the code of conduct will come into effect on November 5, with voting for Zilla Parishad on December 15 and Municipal Corporations on January 15.