Ajit Pawar's death: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to skip zilla parishad, panchayat samiti poll campaign

MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has decided not to campaign for the upcoming zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections in the state following the death of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, officials said.Fadnavis communicated his decision on Saturday, directing local party leaders and office-bearers to continue campaigning for the polls scheduled on February 7, while he will abstain from all election-related events.The state will witness voting for twelve Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis on February 7, with election campaigning concluding on February 5.According to officials, the chief minister was earlier supposed to address 22 campaign meetings over seven days, but has decided to cancel them due to Pawar's demise.The State Election Commission has revised the election schedule in view of the three-day state mourning following the death of Ajit Pawar and four others in the January 28 plane crash at Baramati in Pune district.Under the revised schedule, polling originally planned for February 5 will now be held on February 7, while the counting of votes is scheduled for February 9.(With agency inputs)