The Maharashtra State Election Commission has officially announced the schedule for elections to 2,359 gram panchayats. This announcement also encompasses the contest for 2,950 gram panchayat member positions and 130 directly elected sarpanch roles in 2,068 gram panchayats, which have fallen vacant due to various reasons, including disqualification, death, and resignations.
The forthcoming elections will be held on November 5, 2023, with the corresponding code of conduct coming into immediate effect as of Tuesday, October 3, 2023. The counting of votes will take place on November 6, 2023.
Unlike conventional elections, gram panchayat contests in Maharashtra do not hinge on political symbols. Nevertheless, they bear considerable significance, particularly in the context of intense rivalries among political parties and leadership.
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These elections often serve as a platform for the formation and dissolution of local-level alliances. Gram panchayat elections in Maharashtra are not fought on election symbols.
For the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), this election represents an opportunity to mend divisions within its cadre, which emerged following Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s rebellion against his uncle and party chief, Sharad Pawar.
The NCP, renowned for its substantial rural support base, views the gram panchayat elections as a chance for both Pawars to assess public sentiment before the impending Lok Sabha elections.
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Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena, struggling with internal fights, perceives these village-level elections as a means to consolidate its workers and secure victories for like-minded panels. Workers from both national parties, the BJP and the Congress view this as a vital prelude to the larger canvas of the 2024 general elections.
With urban local body polls preceding the general elections, this electoral exercise assumes even greater significance as it represents the final opportunity for all political parties in Maharashtra to fine-tune their strategies in preparation for the pivotal 2024 polls.