Maharashtra Local Body Polls See Over 20,700 Nominations Filed

The upcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections in Maharashtra have drawn significant participation, with 20,718 candidates filing nominations. According to the State Election Commission, 7,695 candidates will contest for 731 Zilla Parishad seats, while 13,023 nominations have been filed for 1,462 Panchayat Samiti seats. The polls will cover 12 districts, including Kolhapur, Pune, Solapur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, with voting scheduled for February 5.  

Key Highlights  

• 20,718 candidates filed nominations across 12 districts  
• 7,695 candidates for 731 Zilla Parishad seats  
• 13,023 nominations for 1,462 Panchayat Samiti seats  
• Kolhapur recorded the highest number of Panchayat Samiti nominations at 1,529, followed by Pune (1,482), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (1,456), and Solapur (1,371)  
• Polling will be held on February 5, with counting on February 7  
• Around 25,482 polling stations will be set up across the state  

Future Outlook  
The high number of nominations underscores the importance of local governance in Maharashtra. With multiple parties and independents in the fray, the elections are expected to be closely contested, shaping grassroots leadership and development priorities in rural and semi-urban regions.  

Sources: The Economic Times, NewsDrum, The Hindu