The long-awaited elections to Maharashtra’s rural local bodies have finally been scheduled, bringing fresh political activity to the state’s countryside. The State Election Commission has announced that polling for Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis will be held on February 5, while counting of votes will take place on February 7.

State Election Commissioner Dinesh T. Waghmare clarified that elections will be conducted only in those local bodies where there is no legal hurdle related to the 50 per cent reservation ceiling. Accordingly, voting will be held in 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis in this phase.

The districts cleared for polling include Raigarh, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv and Latur. These regions will witness direct contests for control of key rural institutions that play a crucial role in development, implementation of welfare schemes, and local governance.

The Election Commission made it clear that areas where elections have not been announced are still under judicial consideration. Matters concerning those local bodies are currently pending before the Supreme Court, and further decisions will depend on the court’s final verdict.

According to official estimates, nearly 2.09 crore voters will be eligible to vote in this election. The electoral roll updated as of July 1, 2025, will be used for the polling process. To ensure transparency and fairness, the Commission has warned that strict action will be taken against duplicate or illegal voting.

Voters have been encouraged to verify their names and details in advance. This can be done through a dedicated mobile application as well as the official website of the State Election Commission, allowing citizens to avoid last-minute confusion on polling day.