Premium

Maharashtra local body elections to be held after Diwali, says SEC

Poll panel rules out use of VV-PAT machines

3 min readPuneAug 5, 2025 11:33 PM IST

The elections to both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporations have been pending since 2022 (Archive)

AMID speculations about the local body elections, State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare on Tuesday indicated that the elections will be held in November-December. At the same, the State Election Commission also ruled out the possibility of use of VV-PAT machines, which has drawn flak from the opposition.

The elections to both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporations have been pending since 2022.

“We are exploring the possibility of holding the elections from October-end. You can say that the elections will be held in November-January,” the SEC told The Indian Express.

Waghmare emphasised that they were planning to hold the elections after Diwali. “We are planning to hold the elections after Diwali. We have not declared the elections but it would be held from October-end to December,” he said.

Waghmare said VV-PAT machines will not be used in the civic and local self-government body polls. “In the past, VV-PAT machines were not used in the local polls. This time too, they will not be used,” he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare said, “If VV-PAT machines are not used in local body polls, then it raises serious issues of transparency of the elections. We will be forced to approach the courts if the machines are not used.”

Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar too questioned the logic behind not using the VV-PAT machines in the local body polls.

Story continues below this ad

Meanwhile, the SEC said voter list of July 2025 will serve as the basis for the local body polls. He said the four-member ward structure will be implemented like the one done in the last elections. SEC sources said there will be no change in the reservations, including the one of SC-ST and OBCs.

BJP leader Sarang Kamtekar said both PMC and PCMC elections have not been held since 2022. Both are under the rule of administrators. “There is a pressing need to have elected bodies in place. The SEC move to hold elections after Diwali could be because people would be busy in celebrations and then it could throw up the possibility of less voter turnout. It looks like the elections will be held in phased manner in November-December and could also be held in January,” he said.

In Maharashtra, currently as many as 29 municipal corporations are being run by administrators for the last three years.

Among the civic bodies waiting for polls include the BMC, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Kolhapur, Dombivli, Kalyan, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Vasai-Virar.

Story continues below this ad

In March, the SEC had asked the state government to begin the delimitation exercise of wards. The SEC moved into action after the Supreme Court directed it to the notify the local self-government body polls within four weeks. It had also asked the SEC to maintain status quo related to OBC reservation of 27 per cent.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Tags:
local body elections

Loading Recommendations...

Mar 05: Latest News

Live Blog