Maharashtra Municipal Election 2026: State Announces 4-Day Liquor Ban; Check Dry Day Dates in Mumbai, Pune, and Other Cities
Planning to stock up for the week? You might want to act fast as Maharashtra prepares for a significant shutdown of liquor outlets across 29 municipal corporations.
PUNE – The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) and the State Excise Department have mandated a multi-day “dry day” period across major urban hubs, including Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and Navi Mumbai. The restriction comes in light of the general elections for 29 municipal corporations scheduled for January 15, 2026.
To maintain law and order and ensure a fair polling process, all liquor shops, permit rooms, beer bars, and star hotels will remain closed for varying durations between January 13 and January 16.
Official Dry Day Schedule for Maharashtra Elections 2026
The prohibition on the sale and service of alcohol is not limited to just the polling day. According to the official notification, the following schedule will be enforced:
- January 13 (Tuesday): Dry day begins from 6:00 PM onwards, marking the end of the official campaign period.
- January 14 (Wednesday): A full 24-hour dry day across all poll-bound jurisdictions. This also coincides with the Makar Sankranti festival.
- January 15 (Thursday): Polling Day. A complete dry day will be observed as 29 municipal corporations go to the polls.
- January 16 (Friday): Counting Day. Liquor outlets will remain shut until the official results are declared in the evening.
Public Holiday Declared on January 15
To encourage maximum voter turnout, the Maharashtra government has declared January 15, 2026, as a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act. This holiday applies to all government offices, schools, and private establishments within the boundaries of the 29 municipal corporations.
While the holiday aims to facilitate voting, residents should note that essential services will remain operational, though banking and stock market activities may see limited disruptions depending on further RBI circulars.
Which Cities are Affected?
The liquor ban is strictly applicable to the areas where the local body elections are being held. Major cities under the scanner include:
- Mumbai (BMC)
- Pune (PMC)
- Pimpri-Chinchwad (PCMC)
- Thane (TMC)
- Navi Mumbai (NMMC)
- Nashik, Nagpur, and 22 other corporations.
Authorities have warned that any violation of the “Dry Day” order will lead to the immediate cancellation of liquor licenses and potential legal prosecution under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act.
Security and Enforcement
The State Election Commission has directed the police and excise teams to monitor “adjoining areas” of the polling cities to prevent the clandestine transport of alcohol from neighboring districts that are not going to the polls. Special squads have been deployed at district borders to check vehicles for illegal liquor smuggling.
