Campaigning draws to close for ZP and panchayat samiti polls

Kolhapur: The election campaign for 12 zilla parishads (ZPs) and 125 panchayat samitis across Maharashtra concluded on Thursday night, ahead of voting scheduled for Saturday. A total of 2.09 crore voters — 1.07 crore men, 1.02 crore women and 473 others — are eligible to participate in these polls.Maharashtra has 32 ZPs and 336 PSs, but elections in 20 ZPs and 211 PSs were halted following the Supreme Court's directions after these bodies exceeded the 50% reservation limit. For the 12 ZPs going to polls, 731 electoral division seats are in the fray, while the PS elections will decide 1,462 electoral college seats. Counting of votes and declaration of results are scheduled for Feb 9.The ZPs voting this weekend include three from Konkan — Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg; five from western Maharashtra — Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur and Kolhapur; and four from Marathwada — Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv and Latur.CM Devendra Fadnavis did not participate in the campaign. He was supposed to begin canvassing on Jan 28 in the Konkan division, but deputy CM Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash the same day. Other ministers and district guardian ministers led BJP's campaign efforts. NCP kept its campaign subdued, with ministers and local MLAs reaching out to voters. NCP (SP) and NCP have formed an alliance for these polls, with many NCP (SP) candidates contesting on NCP's clock symbol. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde campaigned extensively for his party and its alliance partners.NCP releases Ajit Pawar's pre-recorded messageNCP released a pre-recorded video message by Ajit Pawar, filmed on Jan 24 at his official residence, Devgiri. In it, Ajit Pawar can be seen appealing to voters to back the party candidates. Emphasising the party's commitment to rural development — from agriculture to women empowerment and youth employment — Ajit Pawar can be seen urging voters to choose leadership that prioritised the growth of villages, tehsils and districts. "The video is genuine," Anand Paranjape, NCP's general secretary and chief spokesperson, said.Rohit Pawar urges voters to remember uncleNCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, nephew of late Ajit pawar, posted on X that Ajit Pawar died while travelling to campaign for the ZP polls. He said due to the tragedy, no member of the Pawar family could campaign. He appealed to voters across all 12 ZPs to remember Ajit Pawar and support the candidates as a tribute to him.Shinde campaigns in Pune districtDeputy CM Eknath Shinde campaigned in Ambegaon, Junnar and Khed on the final day of canvassing. Speaking in Junnar, he announced cabinet approval for two leopard rescue centres, saying the move would help protect residents. He also assured voters that he would work to eliminate the leopard threat and promised multiple development initiatives for rural areas of Pune.