Mumbai: The long-awaited local body elections in Maharashtra are now on the horizon, with sources indicating that the Model Code of Conduct for municipal council elections is expected to come into effect in the first week of November. The State Election Commission (SEC) has already begun preparations, setting the stage for a flurry of political activity across the state.
As per the Supreme Court’s directive, all local body elections must be completed by the end of January 2026. Accordingly, the SEC has drawn up a three-phase plan to conduct the polls across Maharashtra:
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10 Oct 2025
• Phase 1: Municipal Council elections – November to December
• Phase 2: Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections – By the end of December
• Phase 3: Municipal Corporation elections, including Mumbai – In January
The Commission aims to complete the municipal council elections before the Winter Session of the State Legislature, scheduled in December in Nagpur. During the session, the code of conduct for Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections is expected to be in force, which will restrict the government from making new policy announcements and allow only legislative decisions.
In light of this, the Election Commission is reportedly considering limiting the duration of the Winter Session to avoid administrative complications. Once the session concludes, the process for Zilla Parishad elections will begin immediately. The entire process is likely to be wrapped up by the end of December, paving the way for the Municipal Corporation elections, including that of Mumbai, in January.
With civic elections, from municipal councils to major corporations, lined up over the next three months, Maharashtra’s political temperature is expected to rise sharply, setting the stage for an intense electoral season.
