This is pure administrative chaos hitting a political nerve, particularly since Baramati is involved (Ajit Pawar’s home turf). The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) didn’t want to postpone the polls, but they were forced to because the district courts missed a crucial deadline.
The key takeaway? Elections for several Pune municipal councils are now slated for December 20, 2025.
Also read:Parliament Winter Session: 100% FDI, Sin Tax, & 9 Key Reforms.
The Breakdown: When Bureaucracy Fails
The SEC had drawn a line in the sand: November 22, 2025. All court decisions on membership disqualification or reservation disputes had to be finalized by this date. This was necessary to ensure candidates got the mandatory three-day withdrawal window before symbol allotment.
The Miss: Critical judicial rulings—specifically affecting the President’s post in both Baramati and Fursungi-Uruli Devachi Municipal Councils—were only delivered on November 26, four days too late.
The Chain Reaction: Because the President’s post was affected, the SEC postponed the entire general election for those two councils. Similar late decisions on member seats forced postponements across wards in Talegaon Dabhade, Lonavala, Daund, and Saswad.
The Legal Violation: By missing the deadline, the Returning Officers were essentially forced to allot symbols without giving candidates the proper time to withdraw their nominations—a clear violation of election rules (Rule 17(1)(b)). The SEC declared these symbol allotments “illegal.”
What Happens Next
New Polling Date: December 20, 2025
Nominations: No fresh nominations will be accepted.
Withdrawals: Candidates who wish to back out have until 3:00 PM on December 10, 2025, to withdraw their existing nominations.
The District Collector urged citizens to note the change. The postponement wasn’t optional; it was a mandatory call by the SEC to correct the procedural irregularity caused by the delayed court orders.
Also read:Parliament Winter Session: 100% FDI, Sin Tax, & 9 Key Reforms.
