Maharashtra: Two Weeks to Civic Polls, Mahayuti Bags 68 Seats; Triggers Row

As Maharashtra heads into civic polls scheduled for January 15, an unusual electoral trend has emerged with 68 candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance set to be elected unopposed, prompting the State Election Commission (SEC) to seek detailed reports amid allegations of coercion and irregularities.

The uncontested wins became apparent after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations ended on Friday. According to official figures, the Bharatiya Janata Party accounts for the bulk of these candidates with 44 unopposed seats, followed by the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena with 22 and two seats going to the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party.

The highest concentration of unopposed candidates is in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, where 22 candidates are set to win without a contest. Jalgaon follows with 12 such seats. Similar outcomes have been recorded in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Panvel, Bhiwandi, Dhule and Ahilyanagar.

Despite the developments, the unopposed victories alone are insufficient for the Mahayuti alliance to secure control of any municipal corporation outright.

Election Commission Steps In

The State Election Commission has directed returning officers not to formally declare unopposed results until inquiries are completed. The panel is examining whether withdrawals were influenced by pressure, inducements or coercion.

Officials said reports have been sought from all municipal bodies where candidates were elected uncontested. Complaints have also been received alleging that opposition candidates were prevented from filing nominations in certain wards.

In Pune, two BJP candidates are set to be elected unopposed, though the SEC has withheld formal declarations pending the probe.

Political Reactions and Counterclaims

BJP leaders have defended the outcome, describing it as a reflection of the party’s growing influence in urban local bodies. State BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye attributed the trend to public support for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the organisational strategy of state party president Ravindra Chavan.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar rejected allegations of wrongdoing and said accusations alone could not establish guilt. He accused the BJP of mismanaging candidate selection and exerting pressure on independents in areas such as Pimpri-Chinchwad. “No one is a criminal until proven guilty,” Pawar said, urging voters to assess candidates on governance and performance.

The Opposition, however, has accused the ruling alliance of undermining democratic norms. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi alleged that opposition candidates were forced out of the race through intimidation by central agencies or financial inducements.

“This is how democracy is being quietly dismantled—through threats of ED and CBI action or by buying out candidates,” she said, adding that the Election Commission’s silence was troubling.

Complaints and Controversies 

The poll panel is also examining a complaint by Aam Aadmi Party leader Rekha Redkar, who alleged that she was denied permission to file her nomination in a Kalyan-Dombivli ward despite reaching the office before the deadline. She claimed BJP candidates were allowed to submit documents after the cut-off time and has demanded access to CCTV footage.

Separately, the SEC has sought a report from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner following allegations that Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar pressured election officials to block opposition nominations. The Congress has sought action against Narwekar for an alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct, citing a video purportedly showing him threatening rival candidates. Narwekar has denied the allegations, calling them baseless.

Wider Electoral Landscape

The Pune Municipal Corporation election is shaping up as a tightly contested four-cornered battle involving the BJP, Shiv Sena, both NCP factions, and a Congress-led alliance. While early talks of an alliance failed, the BJP and Shiv Sena are contesting separately, and the NCP factions have come together, setting the stage for narrow margins in several wards.

In Mumbai, election authorities confirmed that 453 candidates withdrew their nominations, leaving 1,729 candidates in the fray for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Thane has 649 candidates remaining. Counting of votes across the state’s 29 municipal corporations is scheduled for January 16.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Welfare Association has announced that it will back only educated candidates who prioritise issues such as education, reservation and social empowerment for Muslim, Bahujan and marginalised communities.

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