Maharashtra civic polls: No votes cast, Mahayuti wins 68 seats unopposed ahead of voting on Jan 15
PTC News Desk: Even before a single vote is cast in Maharashtra’s long-pending municipal corporation elections, the BJP–Shiv Sena alliance has already secured 66 wards unopposed, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP has won two.
Friday marked the final day for withdrawing nomination papers, during which several candidates from rival parties and alliances pulled out of the race, clearing the way for 68 candidates to be elected without contest.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) alleged that the ruling coalition used money power and intimidation to force opposition candidates to withdraw. In response, the State Election Commission has ordered an inquiry to examine whether withdrawals were influenced by pressure or inducements.
The biggest haul came from the politically significant Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), where 21 Mahayuti candidates were elected unopposed — 15 from the BJP and six from the Shiv Sena. Jalgaon in North Maharashtra, traditionally a stronghold for both parties, also saw 12 uncontested wins, split evenly between the BJP and the Shiv Sena. In Panvel, another key MMR area, seven BJP candidates emerged victorious without a contest.
The BJP also registered six unopposed wins in Bhiwandi, an area long considered a bastion of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) faction.
Despite visible tensions with the BJP in Thane, the home district of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, his Shiv Sena faction managed to secure six uncontested seats. The MNS protested in the district, raising questions over the conduct of the ruling alliance.
Smaller yet politically significant gains were recorded elsewhere as well. In Dhule, three BJP candidates won unopposed, while in Ahilya Nagar, the NCP secured two seats and the BJP one.
Political analysts said these uncontested victories will further strengthen the ruling alliance after its near-clean sweep in the recent municipal council elections. They also noted that the wins will reduce campaign pressure, allowing parties to focus their efforts on other contested regions.
- With inputs from agencies
