Polling in Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats on Dec 2

 

 

 

 

Finally, the State Election Commission declared polling for 246 Municipal Councils and 42 Nagar Panchayats in Maharashtra. It will take place on December 2 and votes will be counted on December 3, State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said on Tuesday. Nagpur’s 12 Nagar Panchayats and 15 Municipal Councils will go to polls. Filing of nominations will begin on November 10. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Waghmare did not declare the election schedule for 29 Municipal Corporations, 32 Zilla Parishads, and 336 Panchayat Samitis where polls are due. Polling will be held through Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) to elect 6,859 Members and 288 Presidents in 246 Municipal Councils and 42 Nagar Panchayats, Waghmare said.

 

 

The number of eligible voters is 1.7 crore and there will be 13,355 polling centres. Filing of nominations will begin on November 10. The last day to file nominations is November 17, and scrutiny will be conducted on November 18. November 21 is the deadline to withdraw nominations. Election symbols and the list of candidates will be published on November 26. The polling will be held as per the cut-off date of July 1, 2025, set by the Supreme Court, which may be considered for extension, Waghmare said. The poll-bound local bodies include Municipal Councils with 20 to 75 members each and Nagar Panchayats (town councils) with up to 17 members each.

 

 

 

“The cut-off date of the electoral rolls is July 1, 2025. We have asked for the voter roll till October 15 from the ECI, and if we get the list, we will consider extending the cut-off date,” the State Election Commissioner said. Replying to questions on the Opposition’s demand for holding polls only after correcting voters’ rolls, Waghmare said the poll schedule is announced as per directives of the Supreme Court to complete the election process before January 31, 2026. Waghmare said the State Election Commission adopts the voter roll from the Election Commission of India. Addressing the Opposition's concerns on “double” voters, Waghmare said adequate measures have been taken to identify them.

 

Waghmare commented, “The names of possible duplicate voters will be marked with a Contd from page 1 double asterisk. Poll officials will contact such electors and ask them to name the polling centre of their choice. Appropriate measures have been taken to address the issue of double voters in the list.” If no response is received from a voter marked as a possible duplicate, and the person turns up at a polling station, they will be required to give a written undertaking affirming that they have not voted elsewhere. Only after strict verification of their identity will they be permitted to cast their vote, the SEC said. The Panchayati Raj system in Maharashtra is a three-tier system of rural local governance consisting of the Gram Panchayat at the village level, the Panchayat Samiti at the block level, and the Zilla Parishad at the district level. A Nagar Parishad or Municipal Council administers smaller urban areas. It is responsible for local governance and urban development. A Nagar Panchayat is a form of urban local governance for areas in transition from rural to urban, often with a population between 12,000 and 40,000.

 

 

 

 

The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday issued a detailed Code of Conduct for the local body elections. All Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats, Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis come under the purview of the model code. The order takes effect from Tuesday and will remain in force until the completion of the election process.

  Issued under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act, 1965 and the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961
  It prohibits violence, intimidation or any attempt to create fear among voters. 
  Loudspeaker use will not be allowed between 10 pm and 6 am. 
  The order bans the distribution of cash, liquor or gifts as inducements to voters. Use of Government vehicles, buildings or staff for electioneering prohibited.
  No new Government schemes or projects can be announced or inaugurated during the election period.
  Expenses incurred by ‘star campaigners’ will not be added to a candidate’s expenditure.
  Use of loudspeakers restricted, and candidates have been asked to apply at least 48 hours in advance for holding public meetings. 
  Campaigning or canvassing within 100 metres of polling stations will not be allowed. 

 

 

Political activities will now gain momentum with the announcement MC and NP polls. In Amravati district, elections will be held for 10 municipal councils (MC) and 2 nagar panchayats (NP). The model code of conduct has come into force from November 4. The MCs to go to polls include Achalpur, Anjangaon Surji, Chandur Bazar, Chandur Railway, Chikhaldara, Daryapur, Dhamangaon Railway, Morshi, Shendurjanaghat, and Warud while NPs include Dharni and Nandgaon Khandeshwar. The election process will commence immediately, with the administration beginning preparations to ensure smooth conduct.

 

The Teosa and Bhatkuli NPs will not go to polls this time, as their elections were already held in 2022. To increase voter turnout, the Commission has planned 32 awareness campaigns. Special ‘Pink Booths’ will be set up for women voters, managed entirely by female staff. Priority voting facilities will also be provided for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The administration has initiated preparations to ensure the elections are conducted peacefully and efficiently across all districts. In all 3,58,868 voters will cast their votes for 278 members including of 10 MCs and 2 NPs in the district. Total of 439 polling stations have been proposed. Parties roll up sleeves n District Correspondent YAVATMAL, Nov 4 Elections for 10 Municipal Councils and one Nagar Panchayat will be held in Dhanki in Yavatmal district. Taking cognisance of the current situation, each party is preparing to contest the elections on its own. In the previous election, Shiv Sena’s Kanchan Chaudhary defeated BJP’s Rekha Kothekar in the MC election.

 

However, BJP won the majority in the ward. In the assembly elections held last year, BJP’s Madan Yerawar was defeated by Congress’ Balasaheb Mangulkar from Yavatmal. BJP is therefore eyeing the post of Yavatmal civic chief and a majority in the ward and is making storng efforts for it. Shiv Sena leader, Guardian Minister Sunny Rathod and his colleagues have made great preparations to make Shiv Sena the number one party in Yavatmal district on their own. Meanwhile, Congress’ entire leadership is on MLA Balasaheb Mangulkar. The post of Mayor of Yavatmal Municipal Council is reserved for Scheduled Tribes, Wani- Scheduled Tribe women, Digras- Scheduled Caste women, Arni - Scheduled Caste, Ner - Backward Class of Citizens, Pandharkawada - Open Category, Ghatanji - Open Category, Maregaon Backward Class of Citizens, Umarkhed - Open Category Women, Pusad - Open Category and Dhanki Nagar Panchayat is reserved for Scheduled Caste women. First time MC polls in Ghughus n Chandrapur Bureau CHANDRAPUR, Nov 4 With the local body elections declared by State Election Commission on Tuesday, the local administration has geared up to conduct the 10 Municipal Councils and a Nagar Panchayat in the district. The elections will be carried out at 10 Municipal Councils including Ballarpur, Bhadravati, Warora, Brahmapuri, Ghugus, Rajura, Gadchandur, Chimur, Mul, Nagbhid, in the district while a single Bhisi Nagar Panchayat in Chimur tehsil will be conducted the local body election on December 2, informed a senior district administration officer. This upcoming election will be the first for the Ghugus Municipal Council since its upgrade from Gram Panchayat status. In the last local body election, BJP won four elections at Ballarpur Municipal Council, Warora, Mul and Warora while Congress won four at Chimur, Gadchandur, Rajura and Bramhapuri, Shiv Sena won at Bhadravati Municipal Council.