Dates for local body elections to be announced after completion of exercises, says Maharashtra state election commissioner
"It would not be possible for the state election commission (SEC) to specify the schedule and dates for the elections at this juncture, since important exercises are being carried out to ensure that the polls take place smoothly," Waghmare told TOI.
According to him, ward formation exercises are currently underway in the local bodies where the polls will be conducted. "Once this is completed, the SEC would start the task of earmarking the wards that would be reserved in each local body.
Thereafter, the preparation of the electoral rolls would take place," he added.
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"All these exercises are long-drawn and time-consuming. Once these exercises are completed, SEC would be in a position to specify the poll schedule," Waghmare said.
He added that the SEC is also preparing details about the requirements of EVMs and polling stations to conduct the elections.
The elections for the local bodies have been significantly delayed.
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In May 2025, the Supreme Court gave its nod to the SEC to conduct the polls.
There are over 600 local bodies in the state, including 29 municipal corporations and 34 zilla parishads, where the polls will be conducted.
Meanwhile, NCP cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal predicted the local bodies polls are likely to take place between Nov and Dec 2023.
"My feedback is that polls would be held in phases. Initially, the elections for the small local bodies would be held, followed by the polls for the zilla parishads.
In the final phase, the polls for the municipal corporations would take place," Bhujbal said.
According to Bhujbal, the SEC needs time to prepare well for the polls, which is a huge exercise.
A section of the politicians said parties will start their groundwork to contest the polls after the monsoon session of the assembly wraps up.
Sources both in Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi said the two coalitions are likely to contest the polls in alliance, as was the case during the parliamentary and assembly polls.
"There could be some exceptions, where in a few of the local bodies, Mahayuti partners could contest the polls independently as a tie-up would not be possible," said a Mahayuti politician.
According to a senior state Congress functionary, the party would like to have an alliance with NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) in the elections. "The top brass would soon meet to discuss the alliance issue," said the Congress politician.
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