Maharashtra Local Polls End with 47% Turnout, Counting Starts Sunday
Maharashtra Local Polls End with 47% Turnout, Counting Starts Sunday
Maharashtra's municipal elections wrap up with 47.04% turnout across 286 councils as counting begins Sunday, amid reports of unopposed posts and a vote impersonation case.
As voting for the posts of president and municipal council and nagar panchayat members across Maharashtra drew to a close on Saturday, officials reported a 47.04 percent turnout by the afternoon. The polls covered 23 municipal councils and nagar panchayats, with 143 posts left vacant. Voting began at 7:30 am and wrapped up around 5:30 pm, with counting for all 286 councils expected on December 21.
In Nashik region, Sinnar, Ozar and Chandwad recorded turnout around 49.47 percent, while authorities reported a fake Aadhaar impersonation case: a 25-year-old man was taken into custody for attempting to vote in ward 2 of Sinnar using a fake identity. Several contests went unopposed this cycle, including the Dondaicha municipal council and Angar nagar panchayat, and the Jamner municipal president post also ended in a no-contest.
The polls featured competition among BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP within the Maha Yuti against the opposition MVA alliance, reflecting lively but localized battles across the state. Earlier this month, Baramati and five other councils were postponed to December 20 due to late court rulings, and the first phase on December 2 covered 263 municipal councils and nagar panchayats, with the second phase including the remaining posts. Counting for all 286 councils and nagar panchayats is due on December 21.
Looking ahead, residents and watchers will be keen to see how the local leadership will shape services and governance across Maharashtra in the months to come.
