The State Election Commission Maharashtra (SECM) on Friday put a stay on Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti Bye-election.
The bye-election for 5 Zilla Parishads and 33 Panchayat Samitis for total seats of 85 Electoral Divisions and 144 Electoral Colleges in the districts of Dhule, Nandurbar, Akola, Washim, and Nagpur was scheduled to take place on July 19.
The Commission took a decision in a meeting with Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Public Health), Additional Chief Secretary (Rural Development), Principal Secretary (Disaster Management) in order to ascertain the prevailing Covid-19 situation, prohibitory orders, and lockdown restrictions in five districts where the election was supposed to be held.
Taking note of all concerns about the second wave and a threat of third-wave along with the spread of Delta plus virus and other variants in the state in general and the electoral constituencies in particular it was decided that to put a stay on the bye-election.
The SEC has also noted the imposition of stringent prohibitory orders and the strict lockdown restrictions in the said areas. As per the schedule, the steps of filing nomination forms, scrutiny of forms, and declaring the list of validly nominated candidates have been completed till today.
