Maharashtra Gram Panchayat Election Results 2021 LIVE Updates: Popatrao Pawar Leads in Hiware Bazar

Popatrao Pawar Leads in Hiware Bazar | In Hiware Bazar Nagar Tehsil, Popatrao Baguji Pawar leads by 7-0. Popatrao is the farmer sarpanch of Hiware Bazar, a gram panchayat in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Last year, his contribution to transforming his impoverished village was recognised with the Padma Shri Award.

Counting of Votes Begins for Maharashtra Gram Panchayat Elections | The counting of votes 12,711 gram panchayats spread across 34 districts in Maharashtra begins. 

The gram panchayat polls are being held more than a month after the ruling MVAs victory in the graduates' and teachers' constituencies in the Legislative Council elections that took place late last year. The MVA, which consists of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, had won four out of six seats on offer, while two others were bagged by an Independent and the opposition BJP.

The State Election Commission (SEC) had on Wednesday announced cancellation of poll process in Umrane and Khondamali gram panchayats, in Nashik and Nandurbar districts respectively, after it received evidence of public auctioning of the posts of sarpanch and members of the local governing bodies. The SEC has allowed those suffering from coronavirus infection or those who are in quarantine to cast their vote half-an-hour before the polling ends.

The poll panel had earlier this week canceled the election process in Umrane and Khondamali gram panchayats in Nashik and Nandurbar districts, respectively, after it received evidence of auctioning of posts of sarpanchs and other members.

The gram panchayats are considered the third tier of governance. Elections for them are not held on party lines, using party symbols. Candidates are allotted election symbols from a list of free symbols.

At least 14 Thane district villages have boycotted the gram panchayat elections to press for their demand to be a part of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation. With 14 villages boycotting the elections, five gram panchayats in the district will not go to polls on Friday, the official said.

79% Voter-turnout | The elections to the Maharashtra gram panchayats on Friday saw on average 79 percent voting on Friday, State Election Commissioner UPS Madan said.

Members Already Elected Unopposed in 20,000-odd Seats | There are 27,920 gram panchayats in Maharashtra. Voting began at 7:30 am and continued till 5:30 pm except in four tehsils in Gadchiroli, a Naxal-hit district, and Gondia district. In these four tehsils, the voting will end at 3 pm. Maharashtra State Election Commissioner UPS Madan on Thursday said that there are 20,000-odd seats where members have already been elected unopposed.

34 Districts Went to Polls | Polling for elections to over 14,000 gram panchayats in 34 of the total 36 districts in Maharashtra began on a peaceful note on Friday morning, an official had said. The polls, being held with COVID-19 protocols in place, will cover 34 districts barring Mumbai city and Mumbai suburban districts.

Maharashtra Gram Panchayat Elections Vote-counting Today | The counting of votes for the Maharashtra Gram Panchayat elections will begin at 9am on Monday. The Maharashtra State Election Commission conducted the polls to 12,711 gram panchayats spread across 34 districts.