Maharashtra Municipal Elections: Ruling Coalition Candidates Win Unopposed Amid Controversy
Unopposed Victories in Maharashtra Elections
In a surprising turn of events, 68 candidates from Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti coalition were declared elected without opposition in the municipal elections held on Friday, as reported by a news outlet. This announcement came just two weeks prior to the scheduled polling date.
The clarity of these wins emerged after the deadline for withdrawing nominations passed on Friday, with several candidates from the opposition alliance opting to withdraw.
Among the 68 unopposed winners, 44 are affiliated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with a significant number of these victories occurring in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation located in Thane district. Additional wins were recorded in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Panvel, Bhiwandi, Dhule, Jalgaon, and Ahilyanagar.
The Shiv Sena faction, led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, secured 22 seats unopposed, while the remaining two were claimed by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) group headed by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Despite these wins, the ruling coalition has not gained control over any municipal corporation.
Polling for 29 municipal corporations across the state is set for January 15, with vote counting scheduled for January 16.
The opposition has raised concerns, alleging that democracy is being compromised through intimidation tactics involving central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, or through bribery aimed at opposition candidates.
Priyanka Chaturvedi, an MP from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), accused the BJP-led coalition of attempting to 'buy out' their victories, as reported by a news agency.
She stated, 'The unopposed victories signify an end to democracy, where they negotiate with opposition candidates through threats from the ED or CBI, or by offering bribes.'
State Election Commission Investigates Allegations
On the same day, the Maharashtra State Election Commission requested reports from the municipal corporations where candidates were elected unopposed, amid allegations of irregularities in the nomination process.
The commission aims to determine if any candidates faced pressure, bribery, or coercive tactics that led to their withdrawal from the elections.
Furthermore, the commission has stated that it will not permit returning officers to officially announce the unopposed elections until the reports are submitted.
Rekha Redkar from the Aam Aadmi Party lodged a complaint with the election panel, claiming that the returning officer in a Kalyan-Dombivli ward denied her the opportunity to file her nomination on the final day. She alleged bias in the election process, stating that BJP candidates were allowed to submit their documents after the deadline, while she was not even given a token despite arriving early.
Redkar has requested CCTV footage from all wards to substantiate her claims of bias.
Political Tensions Rise Over Allegations
BJP leader and Union minister Murlidhar Mohol characterized the unopposed victories as a testament to the party's governance record.
Additionally, the State Election Commission has sought a report from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner following allegations that Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar pressured the returning officer to hinder opposition candidates from filing their nominations.
On Friday, the Congress party demanded action against Narwekar for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct, after a video surfaced on social media showing him threatening opposition candidates.
The Model Code of Conduct outlines guidelines for political parties, candidates, and governments during elections, regulating speeches, meetings, and other electoral activities.
In response to the allegations, Narwekar dismissed them as unfounded.