Maharashtra holiday : Paid holiday declared in 12 districts of Maharashtra on February 7; government issued GR for voting

A paid holiday has been declared on February 7, 2026, in 12 districts of Maharashtra. The state government has issued a GR (Government Resolution) regarding this, and these decisions have been made for the district council and panchayat committee elections. The voting process will take place on Saturday, February 7, and this holiday has been implemented to allow voters to exercise their right to vote. The Election Commission has changed the dates of the district council and panchayat committee elections. Initially, this election was to be held on February 5, but after the death of the state's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, official mourning was declared, and hence the voting date was postponed. Now voting will be on February 7 and counting will be on February 9.

The holiday is not limited to government offices only; it will also apply to private companies, IT parks, corporate offices, industries, commercial sectors, shops, shopping malls, retailers, hotels, restaurants, eateries, and theaters. For this, the Department of Industry, Energy, and Labor has issued an urgent circular. Notably, even if workers are outside the voting area, it will be mandatory to grant paid leave to those voters. In establishments where it is technically not possible to give a full day off or where stopping work would cause significant loss (e.g., essential services), it is necessary to provide employees with at least 2 to 3 hours of leave for voting. Prior permission from the administration will be required for this.

The government has clarified that strict legal action will be taken against institutions that do not grant leave for voting or cut employees' salaries. According to the Election Commission's rules, this action will be mandatory. Therefore, it is extremely necessary for all companies, industries, and commercial establishments to comply with these rules. This decision will make the election process in the state more transparent, and citizens will have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in an easy and safe manner. The administration has also started necessary preparations to ensure security and compliance with rules in all election areas.

This paid leave will be implemented in 12 districts of the state.

• Konkan Division: Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg

• Western Maharashtra: Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur

• Marathwada: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv, Latur

In these districts, employees from both government and private sectors will be able to avail leave for voting. To ensure the smooth conduct of the voting process, the administration has prepared security, roads, transport, and help centers at each location.