Elections for 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis in Maharashtra recorded a voter turnout of 68.28 percent. Parbhani saw the highest at 74.89 percent, while Ratnagiri had the lowest at 55.79 percent. Incidents in Solapur, including the discovery of reserve EVMs and a candidate taking a minor into a polling booth, sparked controversy.
Elections for 12 zilla parishads (ZP) and 125 panchayat samitis took place on February 7, 2026, across 12 districts in Maharashtra, postponed following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. Of the total 2.09 crore electorate, comprising 1.07 crore men, 1.02 crore women, and 473 others, 68.28 percent cast their votes.
In Solapur district's Mohol town, two electronic voting machines (EVMs) were found in a car hired for an official on election duty, near Hotel Swarajya around midnight on Saturday. Officials clarified these were 'reserve' devices, in sealed condition, and unused during Saturday's polling. All EVMs used for voting were deposited in the strong room by 10:30 pm. Some political parties alleged tampering, and an NCP candidate demanded a thorough probe. The State Election Commission promised strict action against those failing to deposit reserve machines on time, while affirming no irregularity occurred.
In another incident, ZP contestant Arjun Sinh Mohite Patil allegedly took his 14-year-old son into a polling booth at Yashwant Nagar in Akluj, Solapur, where the boy pressed the EVM button, as captured in a viral video. Deputy Collector Santosh Deshmukh described it as a violation of voting confidentiality: "It was the responsibility of polling officials to prevent the candidate from taking the minor inside the voting compartment. Police personnel should not have allowed the minor to enter the booth." Patil, after voting, told reporters, "Polling officials objected, but I requested them to allow him to stand next to me while I voted. I do not think there is anything objectionable in this." Action has been initiated against the candidate, presiding officer, and police personnel.
In Pune district, at least nine persons were booked for bogus voting, including a group of six, including a woman, caught with fake Aadhaar and voter cards at Jogeshwari Vidyalaya in Kesnand between 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm on Friday.
The polls serve as a litmus test for NCP factions contesting as allies in western Maharashtra strongholds like Pune, Satara, Solapur, and Sangli. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena held 22 rallies in five days across Sangli, Kolhapur, Satara, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to bolster its rural base. Shinde said in Kolhapur, "We are a workers’ party. There is no owner here. Every village must have our presence." A senior Sena leader noted, "This is preparation for 2029." Vote counting begins at 10 am on February 9.
