Maharashtra Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti Election Results 2026: 'Mini ministries' await verdict; NCP leads in 10 of 12 Baramati seats

• Maharashtra Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti polls counting began Monday.
• Polls saw 68.28 percent turnout among 2.08 crore voters
• NCP factions contested together, results may impact party's future direction

Did our AI summary help?

The counting of votes for crucial elections to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis across Maharashtra commenced under stringent security on Monday morning, setting the stage for a significant political realignment in the state’s rural heartlands.

The counting began at 10 am. According to the latest trends, the BJP and its Mahayuti ally Shiv Sena were ahead of their rivals.

-  The BJP is leading in 16 zilla parishad seats of Sangli

-  In Kolhapur zilla parishad poll, Congress is ahead in 12 seats while NCP in 11

- In Satara ZP polls, BJP is leading in 32 seats, NCP in 17 and Shiv Sena in 10

- In Baramati panchayat samiti poll, NCP is leading in 10 of the 12 seats and all 5 ZP seats

- The BJP established an early lead in 26 seats of Zilla Parishads and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena in 13, as per TV channels, with no official confirmation yet from the State Election Commission.

- Around 11 am, the NCP was leading in 13, Congress in 10 and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) was ahead in 6 seats.

The polls, which function as critical barometers of grassroots political sentiment, were held on Sunday after a postponement from their original date of February 5. The delay followed the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 27 and the declaration of three days of state mourning.

An estimated 68.28 per cent of the 2.08 crore-strong electorate cast their ballots across the 12 districts. According to the State Election Commission, Parbhani district registered the highest turnout at 74.89 per cent, closely followed by Kolhapur at 74.45 per cent and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar at 72.69 per cent. Ratnagiri recorded the lowest participation at 55.79 per cent.

The electoral battle saw 7,438 candidates vying for 731 Zilla Parishad seats and a further 1,462 Panchayat Samiti seats. The massive exercise required the setup of 25,471 polling stations and the deployment of approximately 1.28 lakh personnel. The electorate comprised 1.06 crore men, 1.01 crore women and 468 voters from other categories.

The contests span the districts of Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad), Parbhani, Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad) and Latur.

Often termed ‘mini ministries’, these local bodies wield substantial influence over rural development schemes and the allocation of significant funds, making the outcomes pivotal for the ruling alliance and opposition parties alike.

Polling day was largely peaceful, barring one reported incident in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. A video from the Wadgaon Kolhati area showed a Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate allegedly attempting to vandalise a booth set up by a BJP-backed rival after suspecting the distribution of money.

The footage depicted the nominee arguing and throwing a plastic chair. Local police confirmed that no one was injured in the altercation, no formal complaint was lodged and polling continued uninterrupted in the area.

The results, expected later today, will delineate the new power dynamics within these key rural governing bodies, offering the first major electoral insight into the state’s political landscape following the recent tragedy.