The results of the Panchayat Samiti election, held on Monday last, may affect the Zilla Parishad president's election, to be conducted on Wednesday, political pundits opine.

In Balapur Panchayat Samiti where chairperson's seat was reserved for women, RPI-BMS candidates Vachhala Kogade and Sulabha Load were elected unopposed as chairperson and deputy chairperson respectively. In Patur PS, where the post was also reserved for women, Rekha Khule of Congress was elected unopposed as chairperson. Independent candidate Nitin Deshmukh was elected as deputy chairman. He defeated his nearest rival independent Kalusingh Rathod.

The post of chairman was reserved for Scheduled Caste candidate in Murtizapur PS. Congress-supported Independent candidate Dilip Dongre waselected as chairman of Murtizapur ZP. Dongre defeated his nearest rival Snehalata Tayade by a margin of seven votes. While Dongre polled nine votes, Tayade got only two. One vote was declared invalid. Congress candidate Sanjay Ashtikar was elected unopposed as deputy chairman.

Despite having a strength of 11 members in 24 member Akola PS, Congress had to taste defeat in the chairman's election. Jeevan Gavai of RPI was elected as chairman with 13 votes. Balmukund Bhirad of Congress was elected as deputy chairman in a lucky draw. Both Bhirad and his nearest rival Keshav Ramchandra Gondchavar of RPI had polled 12 votes each.

RPI-BMS alliance bagged the chairman's seat in Akot PS too. Gajanan Malve of the alliance won the seat by a margin of two votes. Malve polled nine votes while his nearest rival Sulochana Tade of Congress got seven. In election to the post of deputy chairman, Lata Ingle of Congress and Prakash Bondre of RPI-supported cooperatives group polled eight votes each. Lata Ingle was declaredelected in a lucky draw.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Suchita Shekale was elected as chairperson of Telhara Panchayat Samiti. She defeated her nearest rival Jitendra Bhagat of Congress by a margin of six votes.