Opposition slams unopposed wins in Maharashtra civic polls

Opposition parties in Maharashtra have alleged coercion and misuse of power after several ruling party candidates in upcoming municipal corporation elections were declared elected unopposed. Seventy corporators across 11 municipal corporations, which go to polls on January 15, have already secured victory after rival candidates withdrew their nominations on the last day of withdrawal on January 2.

Of the elected candidates, 44 belong to the BJP, 22 to the Shiv Sena, two to the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), one to the ISLAM party in Malegaon and one is an Independent.

Most of these victories are from BJP-Shiv Sena strongholds such as Kalyan-Dombivli and Thane.


Opposition leaders have alleged that candidates were pressured or influenced to withdraw. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed that withdrawals continued even beyond the official deadline due to pressure on State Election Commission officials. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in Thane has demanded that the results be scrapped and fresh elections held in affected wards.

State BJP president Ravindra Chavan, who hails from Kalyan-Dombivli where 20 BJP-Sena candidates were elected unopposed, rejected the allegations and said the opposition had stayed away because of the ruling alliance's organisational strength in these areas. The State Election Commission has sought reports to ascertain whether any inducements or pressure tactics were used, as per procedure.