Maha: Zilla Parishad Elections likely to be announced tomorrow

January 12, 2026

Mumbai: Even as the fervour for Municipal Corporation elections sweeps Maharashtra, the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) is likely to announce the schedule for elections to 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis on Tuesday.

With state board examinations for Class 12 beginning on February 10, voting for these local bodies is expected to be held on February 5, SEC sources said on Monday.

Supreme Court Extends Deadline for Local Body Polls

The SEC’s move comes after the Supreme Court on Monday admitted its plea seeking an extension for holding the elections beyond the January 31 deadline earlier set by the apex court. While the poll panel had sought time till February 10, the court extended the deadline to February 15, directing the SEC to complete elections to the 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis before that date.

Although the state is currently in the thick of municipal election campaigning—with only voting and counting remaining—the SEC has finalised its preparations for the rural local body polls.

First Phase to Cover 12 Districts, 125 Panchayat Samitis

In the first phase, the Commission plans to conduct elections in 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis where the 50 per cent reservation cap has not been breached.

At present, elections for 32 zilla parishads and 336 panchayat samitis remain pending across Maharashtra. Of these, 20 zilla parishads and 211 panchayat samitis exceed the reservation limit and will go to polls only after further orders from the Supreme Court. As a result, the SEC has prioritised districts and bodies that fall within legally permissible reservation limits.

Districts Where Elections Are Likely

The revenue division-wise districts selected for the first phase are:

• Pune Division: Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur
• Konkan Division: Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg
• Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Division: Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv, Latur

OBC Quota Dispute Behind Poll Delay

The primary reason for the prolonged delay has been the legal battle over OBC (Other Backward Classes) reservation in local bodies. In 2021, the Supreme Court struck down the 27 per cent OBC quota, ruling that it breached the 50 per cent ceiling mandated by the Indra Sawhney judgment. The court also laid down a “triple test” requirement—formation of a commission, collection of empirical data, and ensuring total reservations remain within 50 per cent—before restoring the quota. This triggered an extended process of data collection and litigation.

‘Mini Assemblies’ Seen as Political Barometer

These elections are often referred to as “Mini Assemblies” as they reflect the ground-level sentiment of rural and semi-urban voters. For major political alliances in Maharashtra, the results are expected to serve as a crucial indicator of public mood and a momentum-builder ahead of future state-level contests.