Pune: Dry Day for MLC Polls Cut Short; Liquor Sales to Resume After 4pm Friday

Pune, 22nd October 2026: The three-day dry day announced for the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections has been curtailed following directions from the Bombay High Court, with liquor sales now prohibited only from midnight until 4pm on October 23, polling day.

The revised order applies to the areas specified by the administration. Liquor shops, beer and wine outlets, bars, clubs and hotels serving alcohol will have to suspend sales during the stipulated period.

The original order had mandated a three-day ban on liquor sales to maintain law and order during elections to five Legislative Council seats. The restriction was challenged in the high court, following which the closure period was revised.

Polling for three graduate and two teachers’ constituencies — Aurangabad, Pune and Nagpur graduate constituencies, and Amravati and Pune teachers’ constituencies — will be held from 8am to 4pm on Friday. Counting is scheduled for October 27.

Establishments in the affected areas have been directed to comply with the revised timings.