Nagpur: After months of speculation, the much-awaited elections for Maharashtra’s local bodies, including the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), are expected to be announced on Tuesday, November 4. The State Election Commission (SEC) has scheduled a press conference this afternoon, where officials are likely to unveil the detailed polling schedule for Municipal Corporations, Councils, Nagar Panchayats, Zilla Parishads, and Panchayat Samitis across the State, media reports said.
According to reports, State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare will address the media later pn November 4 and is expected to make a formal declaration regarding the civic poll dates. Sources indicate that once the announcement is made, the Model Code of Conduct will immediately come into effect, marking the official start of the election process.
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Polls for 246 Municipal Councils and 42 Nagar Panchayats expected to be announced within the next 24 hours, according to reports. The elections are likely to be held in November, following which the Model Code of Conduct will come into force in the concerned areas until counting day.
Reports said the State Election Commission (SEC) will conduct the civic polls using the voter list finalised on July 1, 2025, after the Election Commission of India (ECI) failed to respond to the state’s request to extend the cut-off date and include a supplementary list up to October 15. “It is now too late to make any changes. The July 1 list will be used, and no supplementary voter list will be accepted,” a senior SEC official said.
The State Government has planned a three-phase election schedule, with civic council polls in November, Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections (332 ZPs and 336 PSs) in December, and 29 Municipal Corporation polls, including that of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), likely to follow in January 2026.
However, the move has triggered a political storm. The Opposition parties, including the Shiv Sena (UBT), have demanded that the elections be postponed, alleging that the July 1 voter roll is riddled with irregularities, including duplicate and bogus entries. Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have indicated plans to approach the court with documentary proof.
Officials, however, said judicial intervention may be limited once the election schedule is formally announced. “Since elections will be held in three phases, a petition may be filed before a particular phase, but the court may or may not entertain such pleas once the process begins,” an official clarified.
During the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, no new government scheme, announcement, or policy favouring the constituencies going to polls will be permitted.
According to official records, Maharashtra had 9.7 crore voters in October 2024, which rose to 9.85 crore by July 1, 2025, marking an increase of 14.7 lakh voters. However, youths who turned 18 after October 1, 2024, will not be eligible to vote in these local polls, as the ECI did not extend the voter registration deadline beyond that date.
“The ECI did not allow a Special Summary Revision after October 2024, as it plans to conduct a more exhaustive Special Intensive Revision later. Had the SSR been permitted, new voters would have been included,” an official explained.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the Municipal Corporation elections, with the draft voter list for the 29 corporations set to be published on November 6. Citizens will be able to submit suggestions and objections until November 14, and the final list will be released on November 28.
Officials clarified that only clerical corrections or ward transfers will be allowed, no new entries or deletions. The SEC is also deploying new software to identify duplicate entries, and any voter found registered in multiple wards will be required to submit an undertaking specifying the ward where they intend to cast their vote.
With the election countdown underway and opposition parties sharpening their attacks over the integrity of the voter roll, Maharashtra’s civic polls are shaping up to be a politically charged battle even before the first vote is cast.
