Pune, October 24, 2025:
After a delay of nearly four years, elections to Maharashtra’s Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis are finally on the horizon. For thousands of grassroots leaders, this poll is being seen as a make-or-break opportunity. Many have made it clear — if they are denied a party ticket this time, they will not wait another five years. Instead, they are ready to rebel or even switch parties to ensure their place in the contest.
The long gap between elections has intensified competition among aspirants. “If our group or ward gets reserved for another category next time, what will we do then? We have decided — this time, our goal is not party loyalty but contesting the election itself,” said several local leaders, speaking anonymously.
This sentiment is reportedly widespread across the state, with indications of large-scale defections and rebellions in the upcoming local body polls. What was once limited to Assembly and Lok Sabha elections — party-hopping for political gain — now seems to have reached the village level.
Local representatives argue that if senior leaders frequently switch parties for positions of power, they cannot be expected to uphold loyalty at the grassroots. “When top leaders themselves change parties for posts, what moral right do they have to stop us?” asked one local aspirant.
Maharashtra currently has 34 Zilla Parishads and 351 Panchayat Samitis, out of which 32 ZPs and 336 Samitis are due for elections. For the past four years, these bodies have been under administrative rule. The State Election Commission has already announced reservations for chairperson and constituency seats, and final voter lists will be published on October 27. Elections are likely to be held in December 2025.
As the countdown begins, local leaders are preparing for an intense political battle — one that may redefine the boundaries between party loyalty and personal ambition in Maharashtra’s rural politics.
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