Mumbai, Nov 30: Maharashtra is set to witness a crucial round of local body elections on December 2, with voting scheduled for 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats, marking the first phase of a three-tier process mandated by the Supreme Court.
The December 2 polls are being viewed as a significant indicator of political sentiment in Maharashtra following the BJP-led Mahayuti’s landslide victory in the November 2024 assembly elections, securing 235 out of 288 seats.
The local body results will test whether this momentum translates to grassroots governance or if opposition consolidation can challenge the ruling coalition’s dominance at the municipal level, political observers said.
The campaign period for the polls was extended till 10 pm on December 1. Votes will be counted on December 3. The model code of conduct came into force after State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare announced the poll schedule on November 4.
The elections will decide the fate of 6,859 members and 288 presidents across these local bodies, with over 1.07 crore eligible voters set to exercise their franchise at 13,355 polling stations, officials said.
The polls have already witnessed significant political manoeuvring, with the ruling Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party facing off against the Maha Vikas Aghadi of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) and Congress. (PTI)
