The upcoming Maharashtra civic polls, scheduled for January 15, have taken a controversial turn, with 68 candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance—comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)—poised to win their respective seats without a single vote being cast. This unprecedented situation has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum, leading the State Election Commission (SEC) to step in and order returning officers not to declare results until a thorough investigation is conducted into the unusually high number of uncontested seats.
In what is being described as one of the most unusual episodes in recent electoral history in Maharashtra, the SEC’s intervention underscores the seriousness of the situation. While Mahayuti leaders have celebrated the prospect of these uncontested victories, opposition parties have raised serious concerns, accusing the ruling alliance of resorting to intimidation, coercion, and monetary inducements to force rival candidates to withdraw their nominations at the last minute.
The Numbers Behind the Unopposed Victories
In this election cycle, a total of 2,869 seats across various municipal corporations in Maharashtra are up for grabs. Of these, 68 seats are set to be won uncontested by the Mahayuti alliance. Breaking it down by party, 44 BJP candidates, 22 Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) candidates, and two NCP candidates have no challengers. These figures were confirmed on the final day for candidates to withdraw their nominations, which was Friday, leading to suspicions of last-minute settlements.
The phenomenon of unopposed wins is not unprecedented in Indian elections, but the sheer scale in Maharashtra’s civic polls is noteworthy. Political analysts have suggested that this situation reflects both the strength of the ruling alliance in key regions and the weakness of opposition coordination. However, opposition parties argue that this is not merely a reflection of political strength but rather a product of manipulation and political engineering.
Where the Unopposed Wins Are Concentrated
The largest number of uncontested candidates is in the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC), where 22 candidates are set to win without facing an opponent. KDMC, which has 122 seats in total, is considered the stronghold of Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan. Among the uncontested seats, 15 BJP candidates and seven Shiv Sena candidates are set to be declared winners unopposed.
Following KDMC is Jalgaon, where 12 ruling alliance candidates have no rivals. Of these, six are from the BJP and six from Shiv Sena. Notably, all six candidates who withdrew against the Shiv Sena in Jalgaon belonged to the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, indicating a potential alignment or pressure within the local political landscape. Jalgaon is the home district of Maharashtra’s water resources minister, Girish Mahajan, adding to the speculation of influence being exercised at the local level.
Other municipal corporations with unopposed seats include Panvel and Pune. In Panvel, which has 78 seats, six BJP candidates are set to win without challengers after candidates from Congress, the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), and Shiv Sena withdrew. In Pune, among the 165 seats, two BJP candidates, Manjusha Nagpure and Shrikant Jagtap, are set to win uncontested after rivals from Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) withdrew.
These patterns suggest that the ruling alliance’s dominance is not limited to one region but is spread across multiple key urban centers in Maharashtra. The combination of party strongholds, strategic alliances, and last-minute withdrawals has created a scenario where a significant portion of the electorate will not get a chance to vote in these wards.
Opposition Allegations and Political Backlash
The opposition has reacted strongly to these developments, accusing the ruling alliance of undermining democratic norms and reducing elections to a process of pre-decided outcomes. Leaders from the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have alleged that candidates from rival parties were either intimidated or bribed into withdrawing their nominations.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed on the social platform X that returning officers were instructed to accept withdrawal forms beyond the official deadline of 3 pm. According to Raut, a friend involved in the election process was allegedly told by the guardian minister—in a tone that combined both request and threat—that they should follow the instructions of the local MLA. He characterized this as “mobocracy in the name of democracy” and warned that continued erosion of electoral integrity could lead to public uprisings similar to those witnessed in Bangladesh and Nepal.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also criticized the unopposed victories, stating that the process reflects a deliberate attempt to “end democracy” by either intimidating opposition candidates using threats from investigative agencies like the ED or CBI or buying out victories through bribery. She also expressed disappointment over the SEC’s silence, implying that the commission had a responsibility to ensure a fair contest.
MNS leader Avinash Jadhav echoed these concerns, questioning the purpose of holding elections if victories were already pre-determined. He alleged that the ruling parties had effectively “distributed seats among themselves” and targeted weaker opposition candidates to guarantee uncontested wins. Jadhav’s remarks highlight a broader concern among opposition parties that democratic processes are being bypassed through strategic maneuvering rather than contested public mandate.
State Election Commission’s Response
The SEC’s decision to withhold declaration of results in the 68 uncontested seats is a rare and notable intervention. While the commission has not publicly elaborated on the details of its investigation, it is expected to examine whether the last-minute withdrawals were voluntary or influenced through undue pressure or inducements. Returning officers have been instructed not to announce winners in these wards until the investigation is concluded.
Electoral experts have noted that such interventions are critical to maintaining public confidence in democratic institutions. If allegations of coercion are substantiated, the SEC could potentially invalidate some nominations, order fresh filings, or even re-run elections in affected wards. The investigation could also set a precedent for stricter enforcement of nomination withdrawal deadlines and greater scrutiny of election conduct in Maharashtra and across India.
The Political Context
These civic elections are particularly complex, as long-time rivals in Maharashtra politics are now contesting as allies in certain regions. The Mahayuti alliance itself is a coalition of parties that have historically competed against each other, and the multi-cornered nature of the elections has created high stakes for all players. In many municipal corporations, candidates from the ruling alliance will face competition from their own allies in other areas, adding layers of strategy to an already fragmented political landscape.
The controversy over unopposed seats adds another dimension, as it raises questions about the integrity of democratic competition and whether local elections are increasingly being determined by political bargaining and influence rather than voter choice. For the electorate, particularly in urban centers like KDMC, Jalgaon, Panvel, and Pune, this could mean that a significant number of voters will not have the opportunity to exercise their franchise in these 68 wards.
Looking Ahead
As Maharashtra prepares for what promises to be one of its most divided civic elections in recent memory, the SEC’s ongoing investigation will be closely watched by political parties, analysts, and civil society alike. The outcome could have far-reaching implications not just for the Mahayuti alliance, but also for the broader political culture in Maharashtra, potentially influencing how elections are conducted in future cycles.
While Mahayuti leaders have welcomed the prospect of uncontested victories as a demonstration of their political strength, opposition parties insist that the situation represents a serious democratic deficit, undermining the principle that elections are meant to reflect the will of the people rather than pre-determined arrangements. The controversy highlights the growing tension between political strategy and democratic accountability, making the upcoming civic polls a litmus test for both electoral fairness and public confidence in democratic institutions in the state.
In conclusion, the Maharashtra civic polls are entering an unprecedented phase, with 68 candidates poised to win without contest and mounting allegations of intimidation and bribery. The SEC’s investigation will be crucial in determining whether these unopposed wins are legitimate or the result of manipulation, and the results could set a critical precedent for democratic conduct in the state. For now, the eyes of Maharashtra, and indeed the nation, are on the civic polls, waiting to see whether democracy will be upheld or further compromised in this high-stakes electoral battle.
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