Is December 2 a Holiday in Maharashtra?
Yes, December 2, 2025, will be a paid holiday in Maharashtra, but only in the districts and local bodies where municipal council and nagar panchayat elections are taking place. This is the first phase of long-pending urban and rural local body polls, covering elections for 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats across the state. The Maharashtra State Election Commission (@MaharashtraSEC) announced that voting for the Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections will be on December 2, 2025, with campaigning ending by 10 pm on December 1, 2025.
The GR clearly says that employees in these poll‑bound areas are entitled to a paid day off so they can cast their vote without fighting with HR or bargaining for “just one hour” of leave. The order is backed by provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which requires employers to give paid leave on polling day – something many offices “forgot” in earlier elections, leading to people skipping voting because the attendance sheet looked scarier than the ballot.
Where Exactly Does the Paid Holiday Apply?
The paid holiday applies only in districts and local bodies where polling for municipal councils and nagar panchayats is scheduled on December 2, 2025, not in the entire state of Maharashtra. The GR includes a detailed list of these municipal councils and nagar panchayats across various districts that go to vote in this first phase.
A useful example: in Pune district, there is a holiday in the 18 nagar parishads and nagar panchayats going to polls, but not in areas under Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri‑Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). The district collector has made it clear that December 2 is effectively a public holiday for the rural and smaller local bodies, while city areas under PMC/PCMC will function normally.
Who Gets Paid Leave – and Who Doesn’t?
Anyone who is a registered voter in the polling areas where elections are being held on December 2 is eligible for paid leave, even if their workplace is outside that constituency. The GR specifically states that workers, employees, and officers who are voters in those polling areas must be granted paid leave to exercise their franchise.
This applies to establishments under the Labour Department – factories, shops, hotels, commercial establishments, IT companies, malls, retail outlets, and similar workplaces – which have been told to strictly comply. If your job falls under essential or continuous services where a full day off is tough (think hospitals, certain plants, some utilities), the rule shifts slightly: employers must at least give two to three hours of special leave so employees can step out, vote, and come back before the chai gets cold.
Disclaimer:
This article is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the latest official notifications or individual eligibility. Readers should verify dates, holidays, and employment rights with government orders, employers, or legal/HR advisors. The website is not liable for decisions made based on this content.
