Vote Counting Underway Amidst Varied Performance by Major Parties
Maharashtra's Zilla Parishad (ZP) and Panchayat Samiti elections have seen vote counting progress, with early trends indicating varied performances from key political parties. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) appears to have secured a strong position in Baramati, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has shown significant leads in several districts. The election process, originally slated for February 5th, was postponed due to the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and a subsequent period of state mourning.

The results are unfolding across numerous districts, with a substantial number of seats contested.

Election Overview and Logistics
The Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections involved a significant scale of participation:

A total of 7,438 candidates vied for 731 Zilla Parishad seats and 1,462 Panchayat Samiti seats.
The electorate comprised over 2 crore voters, including men, women, and those from other categories.
25,471 polling stations were established, and approximately 1.28 lakh personnel were deployed for election duties.
The overall voter turnout for the elections held for 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis was recorded at 68.28 percent, according to the State Election Commission.
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The elections were initially planned for February 5th but were deferred.

Party Performance and Emerging Trends
NCP Dominance in Baramati: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Ajit Pawar, has reportedly achieved a significant victory in Baramati, a region often considered a stronghold. Reports suggest the party took the lead in a substantial number of seats within Baramati.
One source notes the NCP "clean sweeps Baramati across ZP, Panchayat Samiti."
Another indicates the NCP taking the lead in "10 of 12 seats in Baramati."
The NCP also opened its account in Baramati with a victory claimed by Pallavi Khetre.
BJP's Strong Showing: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demonstrated a strong performance across several districts.
Reports indicate the BJP has taken leads in numerous seats, with one source stating it leads in 16 seats in Sangli.
Another trend suggests the BJP has won 176 seats in the Zilla Parishad.
The BJP also appears to be leading in 32 seats in Satara.
One report suggests the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, is "poised to win the Latur Zilla Parishad elections".
Shiv Sena's Performance: The Shiv Sena has also secured a considerable number of seats.
One update states the Shiv Sena won 119 seats, performing well in Raigad (18 seats) and Ratnagiri (18 seats).
Another count suggests the Shiv Sena has won 109 seats.
The "Uddhav Sena" (Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray) is reportedly leading in 16 seats.
Congress's Presence: The Congress party has also registered wins in various areas.
It secured 123 seats, with notable results in Sindhudurg (27 seats) and Kolhapur (14 seats).
MNS Opens Account: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, has managed to open its account in the elections.
The MNS candidate Pramod Gandhi won in Ratnagiri.
District-Specific Highlights
Pune: The NCP has shown a strong presence, reportedly taking the lead on 4 seats in Pune.
Baramati: This region is a notable area of success for the NCP.
Sangli: The BJP has a strong showing, leading in 16 seats.
Satara: The BJP is leading in 32 seats.
Ratnagiri: The Shiv Sena has performed well here, winning 18 seats. The MNS also secured a seat in this district.
Irregularities and Incidents
EVMs Found in a Car: In Solapur district, two electronic voting machines (EVMs) were discovered inside a car near a roadside eatery in Mohol town. The incident occurred around midnight.
Voting Day Dispute: In Parbhani, a dispute arose at a polling station in Ranisargaon when individuals were reportedly prevented from voting. Ultimately, some individuals chose not to vote and left the center.
Allied Performance
The Mahayuti alliance (often comprising BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP factions) has collectively secured a significant number of seats, with one report indicating a total of 454 seats.
Expert Analysis
The results suggest a dynamic political landscape in Maharashtra, with established parties maintaining their influence in traditional strongholds while new alliances and regional players carve out their presence. The postponement of elections due to a significant event and the subsequent counting process have been closely watched.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The counting of votes for the Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections is ongoing, with results from various districts progressively being announced. Early trends indicate that while the NCP has a notable victory in Baramati, the BJP and Shiv Sena have also secured substantial gains across different regions. The presence of smaller parties like the MNS opening their account adds another layer to the political narrative.
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The final tally of seats for all parties and alliances will provide a clearer picture of the political mandate in these local bodies.
Further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of EVMs in Solapur may be warranted to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
The performance of various alliances, particularly the Mahayuti, will be a key indicator of their electoral strength moving forward.
Sources Used:
The Indian Express: Provided a broad overview of the election results, including candidate numbers, voter statistics, and key outcomes in Baramati.
Link: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-zilla-parishad-zp-election-results-2026-live-updates-district-wise-zp-panchayat-samiti-counting-10521594/
The Times of India: Detailed live updates, highlighting the NCP's lead in Baramati and early trends for BJP in Sangli. It also reported on the postponement due to Ajit Pawar's demise and the EVM incident in Solapur.
Link: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/maharashtra-zilla-parishad-election-results-2026-live-updates-vote-counting-pune-satara-solapur-kolhapur-local-body-polls-winner-list-ncp-bjp-shiv-sena/liveblog/128095304.cms
India TV News: Focused on the Mahayuti alliance's dominance and provided seat counts for Shiv Sena and Congress.
Link: https://www.indiatvnews.com/maharashtra/maharashtra-zilla-parishad-panchayat-samiti-election-results-live-2026-vote-counting-trends-pune-satara-solapur-kolhapur-winner-list-ncp-bjp-shiv-sena-1029437
Zee News: Offered live updates and reiterated the context of the election postponement.
Link: https://zeenews.india.com/india/live-updates/maharashtra-zilla-parishad-election-results-2026-live-zp-vote-counting-bjp-shiv-sena-inc-winner-latest-news-3015054.html
News18: Provided information about the election profile and winners' lists for ZP and Panchayat Samitis.
Link: https://www.news18.com/elections/local-body/maharashtra/zilla-parishad-zp-panchayat-samiti-ps-election-result/
The Daily Jagran: Highlighted the NCP's lead in Pune and reported on voter turnout data.
Link: https://www.thedailyjagran.com/india/maharashtra-zilla-parishad-election-result-2026-live-updates-pune-satara-solapur-kolhapur-winner-list-bjp-ncp-shiv-sena-vote-counting-lb-30000111
Loksatta: Covered the voting process, including incidents at polling stations and participation details.
Link: https://www.loksatta.com/maharashtra/maharashtra-zp-and-panchayat-election-voting-live-updates-12-zilla-parishads-and-125-panchayat-samitis-on-07-february-2026-kvg-85-5694892/
The Financial Express: Offered live updates and specific results for districts like Ratnagiri, mentioning MNS opening its account.
Link: https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/maharashtra-zilla-parishad-election-results-2026-live-updates-check-zp-gram-panchayat-samiti-results-district-wise-full-list-of-winners/4135723/
The Week: Provided an overview of early leads, highlighting BJP's general lead, NCP holding Baramati, and MNS opening its account, with preliminary seat numbers.
Link: https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2026/02/09/zilla-parishad-election-result-live-bjp-takes-lead-ncp-holds-baramati-mns-opens-account.html
Hindustan Times: Offered live updates with an indication of BJP leading in seats and NCP and Shiv Sena being neck-and-neck. (Content extraction was limited).
Link: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/maharashtra-zilla-parishad-zp-election-results-2026-live-updates-zp-panchayat-samiti-counting-district-wise-101770619951712.html
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