Municipal Corporation Elections 2026: Maharashtra State Election Commission Allows Door-to-Door Campaigning Even After Official Campaign Period Ends
Municipal Corporation Elections 2026: Maharashtra State Election Commission Allows Door-to-Door Campaigning Even After Official Campaign Period Ends
Mumbai, January 14, 2026: Voting for the Municipal Corporation Elections 2026 will be held on January 15 across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, with counting scheduled for January 16. Just hours before the official campaign period was set to conclude, the Election Commission has taken an unexpected and significant decision that has sparked widespread discussion.
As per earlier guidelines, campaigning for the municipal elections was to end at 5:30 pm on January 13. However, the Election Commission has now permitted candidates contesting the Municipal Corporation elections to continue door-to-door campaigning even after the formal campaign period has ended.
This decision means that although public campaigning officially concludes on January 13 evening, candidates will still be allowed to visit homes and interact with voters until January 15. The move has surprised political observers and is likely to trigger fresh debate, as election campaigning traditionally ends 48 hours before polling.
Importantly, the permission comes with strict conditions. Candidates will not be allowed to distribute pamphlets, leaflets or any printed campaign material during this extended door-to-door outreach period.
The meeting clarified that while candidates may continue personal interaction with voters after 5:30 pm on January 13, all forms of material distribution will remain prohibited. The minutes also included several other administrative decisions related to polling arrangements.
Election officials confirmed that this is the first time in Maharashtra that such relaxation has been granted during municipal elections. Traditionally, all forms of campaigning come to a complete halt 48 hours before voting, making this decision by the State Election Commission both unprecedented and potentially controversial.
With polling day approaching, political parties are closely watching the implications of this decision, which could reshape last-mile voter outreach strategies in the final hours before voting.
