Maharashtra Declares Paid Holiday for ZP Elections on Feb 7

• Maharashtra government announced a paid holiday on February 7 for employees to vote in Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections.
• The holiday applies to employees of industries, private companies, and commercial establishments.
• The directive aims to ensure all registered voters aged 18 and above can exercise their franchise.
• Twelve Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis will hold polls on February 7, with vote counting on February 9.
• The order covers various establishments including factories, shops, IT companies, and malls, even for employees working outside their voting constituency.

Why It Matters: Maharashtra mandates paid holiday on Feb 7 for ZP elections to boost voter turnout.