On Friday, the State Election Commission announced that by-elections would be held on 3666 seats in the gram panchayat in Maharashtra. This comes after the regular elections of the local self-government bodies in the state were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
By-elections to be held in several districts
The by-elections will take place on May 18, 2023, in Gram Panchayats in various districts, including Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Sambhajinagar, and Nagpur. The election will be held for the first time in the state after the by-elections of Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly. Earlier, by-elections were held for Andheri, Chinchwad, and Kasba assembly seats.
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Reasons for the by-elections
Approximately 2 thousand 620 Gram Panchayats in the state have 3666 vacant seats. The by-elections will be conducted on the seats left vacant due to death, resignation, cancellation of membership, or other reasons. Moreover, general elections will be held in 126 Gram Panchayats, where sarpanch will be elected directly from the people.
Fielding of candidates by political parties
Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Mahavikas Aghadi have reportedly started strong fielding for the Gram Panchayat by-elections. The Election Commission has instructed political parties to follow COVID-19 guidelines while campaigning for the by-elections.
Nominations and voting
The period for filing nominations for the by-elections of Gram Panchayats in the state will be from April 25 to May 2, 2023. Candidates cannot file nomination papers on public holidays. The nominations will be scrutinized on May 3, 2023, and the deadline for withdrawal of nominations will be May 8, 2023. After that, voting for the by-election will be held on May 18, and the result of the by-election in the Gram Panchayat will be announced on May 19, 2023.
The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements to conduct the by-elections smoothly. The commission has deployed adequate personnel to ensure a fair and peaceful election. It has also urged people to exercise their right to vote and follow COVID-19 guidelines while doing so.
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About Gram Panchayat Elections
Gram Panchayat elections are conducted to elect members to the local self-government bodies in India responsible for the administration and development of rural areas. These elections are conducted under the supervision of the State Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections. The electoral process starts with filing nominations, scrutinizing them, and allowing campaigning. Final voting takes place, followed by transparent vote counting and the declaration of the winning candidate. The elected members work towards the betterment of their respective villages, ensuring the provision of basic amenities and addressing the concerns of the local population.
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