Mahayuti Not Poll-Ready, Cites Public Mood, Rains

Time of India

11-07-2025

Nagpur: The State Election Commission (SEC) is preparing to hold the long-delayed local body elections in Maharashtra in three phases by December. However, leaders from the ruling Mahayuti alliance have begun pressing for a postponement, citing political and logistical hurdles.
A city-based Shiv Sena functionary told TOI that the recent joint rally by Uddhav and
Raj Thackeray
on the Hindi language row shifted the public mood. "If they fight together, they may get an advantage in Mumbai and suburbs. Their unity may be temporary, but it has evoked strong emotional reactions from the Marathi Manoos, especially in urban pockets," he said.
The BJP and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) have also expressed concern over voter discontent, particularly in Marathwada and Vidarbha.
A BJP leader from the region said, "Floods and unseasonal rains devastated farmers. Many haven't received compensation for previous losses. There's clear resentment in rural areas, and our 2024 pre-poll promises of loan waiver remain unfulfilled."
NCP's city President Prashant Pawar said elections before October would be impractical given ongoing rains. "There's no official word from the Election Commission, but holding such a massive exercise before the winter session will be challenging," he said.
Another NCP leader pointed out that elections to 687 bodies — including 22 Zilla Parishads, 226 Panchayat Samitis, 248 Nagar Parishads, 42 Nagar Panchayats, and 29 Municipal Corporations — would require immense coordination.
Despite the pushback, the SEC is reportedly firming up a three-phase plan due to an acute shortage of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Officials say over 29,000 machines are needed to cover the entire electoral process.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently chaired a high-level meeting with ministers and top bureaucrats in Mumbai to assess preparedness. Sources said the govt is mindful of the Supreme Court's directive to conduct the elections within four months.
The SEC has initiated a series of video conferences with district collectors and local bodies to finalise schedules and begin preparatory work. In a circular issued earlier this week, it directed civic bodies to initiate ward delimitation and other groundwork essential for the polls, the district administration sources said.
The sources confirmed that the finalisation of the ward-wise delimitation process will be completed by August, ensuring that preparations remain on track. "Holding all elections simultaneously was proving difficult due to the EVM constraints and manpower requirements. A phased approach is more feasible," they said.
Sources added that the SEC has already received instructions from the Urban Development Department to complete all necessary groundwork, and that a model schedule has been circulated to concerned departments.