Mumbai, Dec 19 (NationPress) Voting for the 24 nagar parishads and nagar panchayats, alongside 154 individual member positions from 76 nagar parishads and nagar panchayats in Maharashtra, is set to occur on Saturday, according to government officials.

The state's administration has finalized all necessary arrangements, and polling personnel have arrived at their designated voting centers.

The State Election Commission (SEC) initially planned the elections for December 2.

However, the polls were shifted to December 19 following legal appeals filed in district courts concerning decisions made by the returning officers.

As per the SEC announcement, the positions of President and Councillors in the Anagar, Jamner, and Dondaicha Nagar Panchayats have been filled without opposition.

While the President of the Jamner Nagar Panchayat was elected without contest, voting for certain member positions will still take place on Saturday.

Polling will occur in Yavatmal, Washim, Baramati, Ambernath, Mahabaleshwar, Phaltan, Kopargaon, Deolali Pravara, Pathardi, Nevasa, Phursungi-Uruli Devachi, Mangalwedha, Phulambri, Mukhed, Dharmabad, Nilanga, Renapur, Basmat, Anjangaon Surji, Balapur, Deulgaon Raja, Deoli, and Ghugus.

The general election schedule for 246 nagar parishads and 42 nagar panchayats was initially revealed on November 4.

However, disputes emerged following the review of nomination papers.

Several candidates approached the court, claiming that election symbols were assigned before they were given the required three-day period to withdraw their nominations.

Due to this ongoing legal matter, the SEC postponed the elections in these particular areas.

The results for these positions, along with those where voting took place on December 2, will be counted simultaneously on December 21.

Meanwhile, campaigning for these local bodies concluded on Friday.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar held campaign rallies in these local bodies over the past three days.

In some local bodies, the Mahayuti allies are collaborating for the elections, while in others, they are competing against each other.

During the initial phase of voting on December 2, 67.63% voter turnout was recorded.

"As these were local body elections, the voting percentage data from various local bodies in a district was compiled at the district collector level before being sent to us. This process resulted in a longer timeframe to announce the official percentage," stated an official from the SEC.

The Murgud Municipal Council in Kolhapur district experienced the highest polling rate at 88.43%, while Besa Pipla in Nagpur district had the lowest voter turnout at 51.33%.

Already embroiled in controversy regarding the poaching of leaders across both allies and the Opposition, the first phase of local body elections in Maharashtra on December 2 faced instances of violence regarding bogus voters, as political parties targeted each other across various constituencies.