Archive · 22 Sep 2026
EC Announces Five Maharashtra MLC Polls as Alliances Prepare
The Election Commission has announced elections for five seats in Maharashtra’s Legislative Council.
Three seats are for graduates, and two are for teachers.
The seats are in Aurangabad, Pune, Nagpur and Amravati divisions.
People will vote on October 23, 2026, between 8 a.m.
and 4 p.m.
Officials will count the votes on October 27.
The election notice will be issued on September 29.
The ruling Mahayuti alliance wants its parties to share the seats and avoid splitting votes.
Opposition parties are expected to work together under the Maha Vikas Aghadi.
The current members’ terms end on December 6, 2026.
The Election Commission of India announced elections for five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats: three Graduate and two Teachers’ constituencies.
The constituencies are Aurangabad, Pune and Nagpur for Graduates, and Amravati and Pune for Teachers.
Polling is scheduled for October 23, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; counting will take place on October 27.
Nominations open on September 29, with October 6 as the filing deadline, October 7 for scrutiny and October 9 for withdrawals.
The Mahayuti alliance is negotiating seat sharing, while the Shiv Sena UBT, NCP SP and Congress are expected to contest jointly as the Maha Vikas Aghadi.
- Who
- The Election Commission of India announced the schedule; the Mahayuti and expected Maha Vikas Aghadi alliances are preparing to contest.
- What
- Biennial elections for five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats representing three Graduate and two Teachers’ constituencies.
- When
- Polling is scheduled for October 23, 2026; counting is on October 27, and the election process is scheduled to end by October 31.
- Where
- Aurangabad, Pune and Nagpur Graduate constituencies, and Amravati and Pune Teachers’ constituencies in Maharashtra.
- Why
- The elections are being held before the terms of the five sitting members expire on December 6, 2026, while political alliances seek to maximize their electoral strength.
Mahayuti
Maha Vikas Aghadi
Alliance strategy
Mahayuti
The BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP are discussing a unified seat-sharing formula to avoid vote fragmentation and combine their organisational strength.
Maha Vikas Aghadi
Shiv Sena UBT, NCP SP and Congress are expected to jointly contest the elections, although their final seat allocation has not been announced.
Graduate constituencies
Mahayuti
The BJP wants to reclaim Graduate seats it has historically represented, while the NCP says it has strong grassroots support, particularly in Pune Division.
Maha Vikas Aghadi
The opposition parties are preparing a joint strategy, but the articles do not specify which party will contest each Graduate constituency.
Teachers’ constituencies
Mahayuti
Shiv Sena has expanded outreach among educators, professors and youth, and its leaders have secured endorsements from teachers’ associations.
Maha Vikas Aghadi
The opposition alliance is expected to coordinate its campaign for the Teachers’ seats, but its detailed strategy is still undecided.
- Seats contested
- Five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats
- Constituencies
- Graduate: Aurangabad, Pune and Nagpur; Teachers: Amravati and Pune
- Notification
- September 29, 2026
- Nomination deadline
- October 6, 2026
- Polling
- October 23, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Counting
- October 27, 2026
- Terms expire
- December 6, 2026
- Model Code of Conduct
- Came into force immediately in the concerned constituencies
