India, Jan. 30 -- The Maharashtra State Election Commission on Thursday postponed elections to 12 Zilla Parishads, including Pune, by two days following the death of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. The polls, earlier scheduled for February 5, will now be held on February 7, while the counting of votes has been rescheduled to February 9.

Suresh Kankani, secretary, state election commission, issued a circular announcing the revised dates, citing the three-day state mourning declared by the government after Pawar's death. "In view of the passing away of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, the state government has announced three days of mourning. Under these circumstances, it would be difficult for candidates to campaign. T...