Maharashtra local body election: Bombay HC postpones Dec 3 counting, results now on Dec 21

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The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court (HC) on Tuesday halted the December 3 vote counting for municipal councils and Nagar Panchayats across Maharashtra, issuing an interim order after hearing several petitions that alleged procedural irregularities in the conduct of the elections.

Senior counsel Firdos Mirza, representing the petitioners, was quoted by The Times of India as saying that the court indicated that the entire counting process would now be held on December 21. In a broad directive, the court also barred all exit polls until December 20.

The order comes at a time of heightened tension over the civic body elections, following the Maharashtra State Election Commission’s decision to postpone voting in 24 local bodies—20 municipal councils and four nagar panchayats—after uncovering widespread irregularities.

As per a report by the newspaper, the stay order comes in response to multiple petitions, including one from Warora, where a BJP candidate has challenged the State Election Commission’s (SEC) revised schedule. The Commission had earlier cancelled the election in Ward No. 7 of the Warora Municipal Council but maintained that results for the remaining 13 wards would be announced on December 3.

Commenting on the postponement of local body election counting and the deferment of polls in certain areas, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Election Commission must strengthen and streamline its functioning.

"I have not read the court’s judgment, but since the decision has been given, everyone will have to accept it. The elections that were announced and the counting that was scheduled are all being pushed forward. In my 25 years of political life, I have never seen anything like this, and it is not right," the CM was quoted by India TV as saying.

"The court has given its decision. Whether it is the court or the Election Commission, both are autonomous institutions. But the candidates who have worked hard for so many days and campaigned, despite having no fault of their own, are having to suffer because of the system’s failure, which is not right. More elections are yet to take place, and the Election Commission should correct these mistakes," he added.