In a significant pre-poll development, eight candidates from major political parties are poised to be elected unopposed in the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra's Nashik division. The uncontested victories are set to occur in the civic bodies of Jalgaon, Dhule, and Ahilyanagar, following a combination of nomination withdrawals and disqualifications of rival candidates.
Parties and Candidates Secure Early Wins
The uncontested field includes four candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), two from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and two from the Shiv Sena. This development comes ahead of the elections scheduled for five corporations, including Nashik and Malegaon, on January 15. The scenario unfolded after opposing candidates either failed to qualify during the scrutiny process or voluntarily withdrew their nominations.
Jalgaon: Alliance Partners Benefit
In Jalgaon, where the BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena are contesting in an alliance, three candidates have been left without challengers. Two Shiv Sena nominees and one from the BJP will walk into their wards unopposed. A notable instance occurred in Ward 18-A, where Mayur Chandrashekhar Sonawane of Shiv Sena (UBT) withdrew his nomination against Gaurav Sonawane, the son of Sena MLA Chandrakant Sonawane. Similarly, in Ward 9-A, independent candidate Rahul Lokhande withdrew his papers against Shiv Sena's Manoj Chaudhary, who is now set to secure a fourth term. In another ward, BJP's former city president Ujjwala Bendale found herself unopposed after her rival was disqualified during scrutiny, paving her way for a third term.
Dhule and Ahilyanagar: Solo Contests Yield Unopposed Seats
The political landscape differs in Dhule and Ahilyanagar, where parties are contesting independently. In Dhule, where the BJP is going solo, three of its candidates have been declared unopposed after the nomination scrutiny. The uncontested winners are Ujjwala Bhosale (Ward 1-A), Jyotsana Patil (Ward 6-B), and Surekha Ugle (Ward 17-B). With Dhule having a total of 74 seats, the BJP has expressed confidence in winning all 55 seats it is contesting.
In Ahilyanagar, the NCP, contesting alone, has secured two uncontested seats. In Ward 8-D, NCP's Kumarsingh Wakle became the lone candidate after the Shiv Sena nominee failed the scrutiny process and an independent candidate withdrew. Likewise, in Ward 14, the rival candidate's withdrawal left NCP's Prakash Bhaganagare without opposition.
Implications for January 15 Elections
These early, uncontested victories reduce the number of fiercely contested seats and provide a psychological boost to the respective parties ahead of the main polling day. The outcomes in these specific wards are now decided, allowing the parties to focus their resources and campaigning efforts on the remaining competitive wards across the Nashik, Malegaon, Jalgaon, Dhule, and Ahilyanagar municipal corporations. The trend highlights the complex dynamics of local alliances and the impact of nomination scrutiny on electoral outcomes.
