Maharashtra Local Body Elections First Phase

The first phase of India — Maharashtra's local body elections is underway, with voting across 264 municipal councils and nagar panchayats for 6,042 seats and 264 council president posts. Nearly one crore voters are eligible to participate, with results expected on December 3. The India — Election Commission of India is overseeing the process, deploying 62,108 personnel and 12,316 polling stations. The elections are being held under a India — Supreme Court of India directive to complete all pending local body polls by January 31, 2026. The political contest is primarily between the ruling India — Mahayuti alliance (comprising the India — Bharatiya Janata Party, Eknath Shinde-led India — Shiv Sena (UBT), and Ajit Pawar's India — Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar) and the opposition India — Maha Vikas Aghadi (consisting of the Uddhav Thackeray-led India — Shiv Sena (UBT) (UBT), Sharad Pawar's India — Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar (SP), and the India — Indian National Congress). The India — Election Commission of India has postponed polling in 24 local bodies and 154 seats due to legal challenges. The India — Bharatiya Janata Party has already secured unopposed victories in 100 councillor seats and three municipal president positions. The India — Election Commission of India has also implemented measures like a duplicate voter verification system and a mobile application for voter information.