BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP win 68 seats uncontested in Maharashtra municipal corporation elections; Opposition cries foul

The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has apparently won 68 seats uncontested in the crucial municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra. As per the reports, the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), and NCP have no opponents in these 68 seats. An Islam Party candidate in Malegaon also has no opponents. The development was confirmed on Friday, the last day of nomination withdrawals.

There are 2,869 seats in the 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra where elections will be held on January 15. Of the total 2,869 seats, the BJP faces no opponents on 44 seats, while the Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP are uncontested on 22 and two seats, respectively.

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Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has the highest number of ruling alliance candidates with no opponents – 22, including 15 from the BJP and seven from the Shiv Sena. The seat is the home turf of the BJP Maharashtra President, Ravindra Chavan. In Jalgaon, 12 Mahayuti candidates (six from the BJP and six from the Shiv Sena) are likely to win unopposed with no opponents. Jalgaon is the hometown of Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan.

In the 78-seat Panvel Municipal Corporation, the BJP candidates on 6 seats don’t have any opponents from the Opposition parties, as their candidates mysteriously withdrew at the eleventh hour. In the 165-seat Pune Municipal Corporation, BJP’s Manjusha Nagpure and Shrikant Jagtap are set for a clear victory after Opposition candidates withdrew their nominations.

‘Just a trailer, the full picture is yet to come’

Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC said that this is just the trailer and the ruling alliance will dominate all 29 Municipal Corporations. “There are 22 candidates who won unopposed, a major achievement for the MahaYuti alliance. As they say, this is just the trailer—the full picture is yet to come… The Mahayuti alliance will dominate all 29 Municipal Corporations. By any measure, this wave is like a blockbuster film,” she said.

Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol attributed the unopposed wins to the development work carried out in the city under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

“BJP candidates Manjusha Nagpure and Shrikant Jagtap are elected unopposed from Ward No. 35 of the Pune Municipal Corporation. This is a result of the development work carried out in Pune under the leadership of PM Modi and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis… This is the beginning for ensuring that Pune gets a BJP Mayor,” Mohol said.

Opposition cries foul

The development prompted sharp reactions from the Opposition parties, which alleged that the ruling BJP-led alliance had intimidated their candidates into withdrawing their nominations at the last moment. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed that returning officers have been directed to accept withdrawal of nominations even if they come late at night.

“A friend of mine, who is in this election process, said this (accepting the form beyond 3 pm) would not be appropriate. He was told by the guardian minister, in a tone that sounded both a request as well as a threat, that he should listen to what the local MLA says,” Raut said, adding, “this is mobocracy in the name of democracy” and warning of a public uprising like Bangladesh and Nepal.

Following the Opposition’s allegations, the State Election Commission has directed the returning officers to hold the final announcement of winners in these wards until the investigation is complete.