Mahayuti Bags 64 Civic Corporator Seats Unopposed Across Maharashtra
Opposition parties alleged that the ruling dispensation had used government machinery to pressure rival candidates into withdrawing from the fray.
Mumbai:The number of BJP–Shiv Sena corporators elected unopposed in the 122-member Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) rose to 21 on Friday, the final day for withdrawal of nominations. Those elected uncontested included 15 councillors from the BJP and six from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Opposition parties alleged that the ruling dispensation had used government machinery to pressure rival candidates into withdrawing from the fray.
Across the state, the Mahayuti alliance secured 64 seats unopposed in 29 municipal corporations as the withdrawal deadline closed. The early gains, attributed to effective management of rebels and last-minute withdrawals by opposition candidates, put the ruling combine in a celebratory mood well ahead of polling.
The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the biggest beneficiary of the pre-poll developments, claiming 44 unopposed seats. Its most significant breakthrough came in KDMC, where candidates from the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) withdrew their nominations at the eleventh hour, allowing 15 BJP candidates to be elected uncontested.
The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena secured 18 unopposed corporator posts, including six in KDMC. The party’s dominance was most evident in Thane, its political stronghold. While the election initially drew 1,107 nominations, the final day of withdrawals on January 2 saw a large number of candidates pull out, paving the way for seven Shiv Sena candidates to be elected unopposed from areas such as Wagle Estate and Vartak Nagar.
The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party accounted for two unopposed seats. With 64 seats already secured, the Mahayuti alliance enters the main phase of the municipal polls with a substantial numerical edge over the opposition.
Opposition parties have raised concerns over the fairness of the unopposed victories, alleging coercion and undue influence. In response, the State Election Commission (SEC) has sought detailed reports from municipal corporations and initiated an inquiry into the circumstances under which candidates withdrew their nominations.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged that intimidation and blackmail were being used to engineer unopposed wins. “The Election Commission has ordered an inquiry. But once the probe began, CCTV footage from concerned locations started disappearing. Maharashtra has never witnessed municipal elections being won unopposed on such a large scale,” Raut said.
The SEC has also sought a report from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani over allegations that Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar pressured a Returning Officer from Ward A. The Commission has asked for a review of CCTV footage from the RO’s office.
Raut further alleged that Mr. Narwekar compromised his neutrality by visiting a nomination centre for relatives. The Assembly Speaker dismissed the allegations as “baseless”, saying they stemmed from the Opposition’s fear of defeat. “All candidates who arrived before the 5 p.m. deadline on December 30 were processed. Those raising objections — including a BJP candidate — arrived late,” Mr. Narwekar said.