Maharashtra will observe a dry day and a mandatory paid holiday on February 7 as voters across 12 districts head to the polls for local body elections.
The elections will determine representatives for 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis. Districts going to polls include Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv, and Latur.
The State Election Commission (SEC) recently revised the election schedule. Polling, earlier slated for February 5, has been postponed to February 7, while vote counting will now take place on February 9.
To ensure free and fair elections, the state government has prohibited the sale of alcohol in all polling districts on voting day. Liquor shops, bars, and related establishments will remain closed as part of the dry day directive.
In a move aimed at boosting voter turnout, the Maharashtra government has declared February 7 as a paid holiday for employees in private establishments, factories, industries, shops, and commercial organisations. The labour department has instructed employers to allow registered voters adequate time off to cast their ballots.
The government has reiterated that all eligible citizens aged 18 years and above should exercise their democratic right and participate in the polling process.
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