Maharashtra Zilla Parishad election results: What it means for Mahayuti, 'united' NCP

The elections to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis concluded on Saturday with an overall voter turnout of 68.28 per cent

• Mahayuti alliance leads with 454 seats in Maharashtra Zilla Parishad polls
• Opposition MVA trails with 103 seats; independents and others secure 30 seats
• Victory boosts Mahayuti's control over district funds and grassroots influence

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Counting of votes for 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis across Maharashtra is underway, with trends showing a decisive lead for the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

According to trends, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar is on course to win 126 seats, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is leading on 120 seats.

Overall, the Mahayuti alliance has secured a combined lead of 454 seats across the state so far.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) trails with a total of 103 seats. The Congress is leading on 46 seats, followed by the Shiv Sena (UBT) on 38 seats and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP on 19 seats.

Parties outside the two major alliances, along with independents, have so far accounted for 30 seats in the Zilla Parishad elections.

Originally planned for February 5, the elections were postponed after the death of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash.

The polls are viewed as the first significant electoral test since the incident.

It is important particularly for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), whose rival factions contested the elections together in key regions of western Maharashtra.

The results are expected to shape the future course for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions of late Ajit Pawar and party founder Sharad Pawar.

The elections to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis concluded on Saturday with an overall voter turnout of 68.28 per cent, according to the State Election Commission.

Importance of Zilla Parishads

Zilla Parishad is a local government body at the district level in India. It oversees key areas such as primary education, healthcare, water supply, sanitation and implementation of welfare schemes. With a large section of Maharashtra’s population living in rural and semi-rural areas, control over ZPs translates into grassroots influence and day-to-day political visibility.

What does this victory mean for Mahayuti?

Coming on the back of a strong show by BJP and allies in the local body polls, particularly the BMC elections, a strong Mahayuti performance will allow the alliance to project stability and inevitability.

It will also allow the Mahayuti more control over district-level funds, contracts and welfare implementation. This may also pave the way for stronger organisational base for the alliance.

With BJP candidates performing well, it reinforces the party’s position as the senior partner in the Mahayuti. This gives the BJP greater leverage in future seat-sharing talks for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP has traditionally been stronger in urban and semi-urban Maharashtra, with rural areas dominated by Congress–NCP networks. This victory would signal that the BJP’s long-term push into rural Maharashtra—through welfare delivery, cooperative sector inroads, and organisational expansion—is showing results.

The ZP elections were also considered a test of coordination between BJP, Ajit Pawar’s NCP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The alliance’s strong showing suggests that electorally, the Mahayuti has managed to avoid large-scale vote-splitting and cadre rebellion at the district level.