The counting of votes for the Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti Elections 2026 began at 10 am on February 9, bringing focus to one of the state’s most significant rural electoral exercises in recent years. Conducted across 12 districts, the elections are being closely tracked as a major political test following recent developments within key political parties and the passing of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Voting took place on February 7 after being postponed from February 5 due to state mourning. With early trends emerging from several districts, the results are expected to shape rural governance and political alignments across Maharashtra in the coming years.
Maharashtra ZP Election Results 2026: Key Highlights and Major Developments
- Counting of votes began on February 9 at 10 am across 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis.
- Polling was conducted on February 7 after postponement due to state mourning declared following Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash on January 28.
- Voter turnout ranged between around 67 per cent and 68.28 per cent across districts, according to different official updates.
- A total of 731 Zilla Parishad seats and 1,462 Panchayat Samiti seats are being decided.
- Around 7,438 candidates contested the elections.
- Over two crore voters were eligible to vote.
- 25,471 polling stations were set up and around 1.28 lakh personnel were deployed for election duty.
- Elections are being seen as a political test between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.
- Early trends have emerged from Pune, Kolhapur, Solapur, Latur, Raigad and other districts.
Polling Schedule, Postponement and Electoral Participation
The elections were held in Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv and Latur districts. Initially scheduled for February 5, the elections were postponed to February 7 after the Maharashtra government declared three days of mourning following Ajit Pawar’s death in a charter plane crash.
Polling took place between 7:30 am and 5:30 pm using Electronic Voting Machines based on electoral rolls finalized on July 1, 2025. Voting was largely peaceful, although isolated incidents were reported across districts.
Reported Incidents During Polling
- Minor EVM issues reported at some booths.
- Verbal clashes between party workers in a few locations.
- In Wadgaon Haveli area of Satara district, BJP and NCP workers argued over allegations of bogus voting before police intervened.
- In Dharashiv district, a purported audio clip involving alleged voter inducement circulated and triggered controversy.
- In Sangli district’s Balgavde village, around 2,200 voters boycotted polling to protest the felling of nearly 15,000 trees for a solar energy project.
- In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate allegedly argued at a booth and threw a plastic chair after suspecting money distribution, though no complaint was filed and polling continued peacefully.
Election Scale and Reservation Details
The elections involved a large number of candidates and reserved seats across categories.
Zilla Parishad Seats
| Category | Number of Seats |
| Total Seats | 731 |
| Women | 369 |
| Scheduled Castes | 83 |
| Scheduled Tribes | 25 |
| OBC | 191 |
Panchayat Samiti Seats
| Category | Number of Seats |
| Total Seats | 1,462 |
| Women | 731 |
| Scheduled Castes | 166 |
| Scheduled Tribes | 38 |
| OBC | 342 |
A total of 2,624 candidates contested Zilla Parishad seats, while 4,814 candidates contested Panchayat Samiti seats.
Where and How to Watch Maharashtra ZP Election Results 2026
Live updates and counting trends are being broadcast through television and digital platforms. Continuous updates are available through live blogs, websites, mobile applications and YouTube streams of media platforms including Financial Express, Loksatta, Lokmat and Saam TV. These platforms are providing district-wise trends, seat tallies and political reactions as counting progresses.
Also Read: Ajit Pawar Dies in Tragic Baramati Plane Crash, Maharashtra Loses Its Deputy Chief Minister
District-Wise Overview: Seats, Battlegrounds and Early Trends
The elections are often described as “mini-Assembly polls” because of their importance in rural governance and political signalling.
| District | ZP Seats | Key Areas/Battlegrounds | Early Trends/Notes |
| Pune | 73 | Baramati, Indapur, Ambegaon | Early leads for NCP; strong contest |
| Raigad | 59 | Alibaug, Panvel | Shiv Sena showing early momentum |
| Sangli | 60 | Miraj, Tasgaon | Tactical alliances at local level |
| Parbhani | 54 | Jintur, Selu | Highest turnout (74.89%) |
| Kolhapur | 67 | Karveer, Ichalkaranji | Congress and NCP leading on multiple seats |
| Latur | 58 | Latur Rural, Nilanga | BJP ahead in early rounds |
Counting continues across all districts with official winner lists being updated by returning officers.
Pune Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti Results: Early Trends and Political Importance
Pune remains one of the most closely watched districts due to its political significance. The district has 75 Zilla Parishad wards and 13 Panchayat Samitis comprising 150 wards. Early trends showed the Nationalist Congress Party leading on several seats, including reports of leads on 13 seats and later trends showing the party ahead on multiple seats as counting progressed. Around mid-morning trends indicated NCP leading with 18 seats, followed by BJP with 12 seats, Shiv Sena with 2 seats, NCPSP with 2 seats and Congress with 1 seat.
Pune district’s Panchayat Samitis include Junnar, Ambegaon, Shirur, Khed, Maval, Mulshi, Haveli, Daund, Purandar, Velhe, Bhor, Baramati and Indapur. The district’s political outcome is being closely analysed due to its influence on state-level political strategies.
Kolhapur, Solapur, Latur and Raigad: Key District Updates
In Kolhapur, early counting trends indicated Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party leading on around 10 seats each. The district has 67 Zilla Parishad seats and 134 Panchayat Samiti seats across 12 Panchayat Samitis including Shahuwadi, Panhala, Hatkanangale, Shirol, Kagal, Karvir, Gaganbawda, Radhanagari, Bhudargad, Ajara, Gadhinglaj and Chandgad.
In Solapur, early trends showed the BJP leading on nine seats in the Zilla Parishad race, followed by Shiv Sena with two leads and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) with three leads. Leads also emerged from Panchayat Samiti blocks including Madha, Barshi, Solapur North and Malshiras. Solapur has 68 Zilla Parishad seats and 136 Panchayat Samiti seats across 11 Panchayat Samitis.
In Latur, early counting trends indicated the BJP ahead on eight seats. The district has 59 Zilla Parishad seats and 118 Panchayat Samiti seats across talukas including Latur, Ausa, Nilanga, Udgir, Ahmadpur, Chakur, Renapur, Shirur Anantpal and Deoni.
Raigad district, which has 59 Zilla Parishad seats and 118 Panchayat Samiti seats across 15 Panchayat Samitis, witnessed early momentum for the Shiv Sena.
Historical Context: Reference from the 2017 Zilla Parishad Elections
The last Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections in these districts were held in 2017. The Nationalist Congress Party emerged as the single largest party with 225 seats across the 12 districts. The BJP secured 141 seats, followed by Congress with 123 seats and Shiv Sena with 119 seats. Independent candidates and smaller parties together won 80 seats, highlighting the strong role of local dynamics in rural elections.
In Pune, the NCP had won 44 of the 75 seats in 2017, while Shiv Sena secured 13 seats and both BJP and Congress won seven seats each. In Parbhani, the NCP had won 24 seats followed by Shiv Sena with 13 seats. In Latur, the BJP had secured a clear majority with 36 seats in the 2017 Zilla Parishad election.
Political Significance of the 2026 Rural Local Body Elections
The 2026 elections are being viewed as a political litmus test following the passing of Ajit Pawar and ongoing shifts within Maharashtra’s political alliances. In several districts, alliance partners contested both together and against each other, creating multi-cornered contests. The results are expected to provide indications about future political alignments, especially in western Maharashtra where rural political influence remains significant.
Spiritual Perspective: Understanding Social Responsibility Through the Unique Knowledge of Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj Ji
Amid political developments and electoral outcomes, spiritual thinkers often emphasise the importance of ethical leadership and social responsibility in public life. The teachings of Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj highlight the value of truthfulness, equality and moral conduct in governance and society.
His spiritual knowledge focuses on harmony, non-violence and righteous living, encouraging individuals and leaders alike to work for collective welfare rather than personal gain. In the broader context of democratic processes, such teachings underline the importance of honesty, accountability and service-oriented leadership for the betterment of society and sustainable social progress.
Rural Political Equations Begin to Emerge as Counting Progresses
As counting continues across Maharashtra, the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti Election Results 2026 are gradually revealing the evolving political landscape of rural Maharashtra. Early trends suggest competitive contests across districts rather than a single dominant outcome.
The final results will determine leadership in key rural local bodies responsible for development planning and fund allocation, and are expected to influence political strategies and alliances across the state in the months ahead.
FAQs on Maharashtra ZP Election Results 2026
Q1. When did the Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti election counting begin?
Counting for Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti Elections 2026 began on February 9 at 10 am across 12 districts of the state.
Q2. How many seats are being decided in Maharashtra ZP Election Results 2026?
A total of 731 Zilla Parishad seats and 1,462 Panchayat Samiti seats are being decided in the Maharashtra rural local body elections 2026.
Q3. What was the voter turnout in Maharashtra ZP Elections 2026?
The Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections recorded a voter turnout of around 67 to 68.28 percent across the 12 participating districts.
Q4. Which districts voted in Maharashtra Zilla Parishad Elections 2026?
Polling was conducted in Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv and Latur districts.
Q5. Why were Maharashtra ZP Elections 2026 postponed?
The elections were postponed from February 5 to February 7 after the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and the declaration of state mourning in Maharashtra.
Q6. Where can voters check Maharashtra ZP Election Results 2026 live updates?
Live counting updates and district-wise trends can be checked through news live blogs, television coverage and digital platforms providing real-time election result updates.
