A major political controversy has erupted in Maharashtra over the unopposed election of a large number of candidates in the ongoing civic polls, prompting strong demands from opposition parties for an immediate and thorough investigation by the State Election Commission (SEC).
Opposition Leaders Raise Alarm Over Democratic Process
Senior leaders from the Congress, the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have jointly voiced serious concerns, alleging that the unopposed victories of 68 candidates belonging to the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance point to foul play. They claim that threats, coercion, and financial inducements may have forced rival candidates to withdraw from the electoral fray.
Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan stated that there is widespread public uproar over these developments. He emphasized that the SEC is duty-bound to investigate the serious allegations of intimidation and bribery that allegedly facilitated these uncontested wins. "I have already demanded countermanding of the polls in Colaba, where threats have been issued to Opposition candidates and whose CCTV footage has also been found," Chavan said. He added that a probe is essential to understand how such a high number of candidates secured elections without a contest.
Calls for Immediate SEC Intervention and Action
Lok Sabha MP and NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule called the situation a direct threat to a robust democracy. "Such a large number of candidates getting elected unopposed is unimaginable, whichever party they may be from," she remarked. Sule urged the SEC to intervene immediately and launch a comprehensive investigation, arguing that merely asking municipal commissioners for a report would not uncover the truth. A detailed probe, she stressed, is crucial to restore public faith in the electoral process.
Echoing these sentiments, AAP spokesperson Mukund Kirdat, who first raised objections regarding the unopposed win of a BJP candidate in PCMC's Bhosari ward, said their suspicions have been validated. "When such a huge number of candidates are in the fray and there was so much enthusiasm to contest, it is impossible to believe they withdrew on their own," Kirdat asserted. He strongly believes the candidates were either threatened or offered large sums of money to back out. The AAP has demanded that the so-called results of these unopposed elections should not be declared until a full investigation is completed.
Kirdat further suggested concrete steps for the probe: "All those candidates who withdrew from the race should be called and investigated. Their phone records should be checked and their bank accounts should also be checked to find out the truth." He also called for the SEC to hold a press conference to address the growing doubts.
Congress Accuses BJP of an "Opposition-Free" Mindset
At a separate press conference in Mumbai, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshavardhan Sapkal launched a sharp attack on the ruling alliance. He contrasted the inclusive tradition of India's first cabinet under Jawaharlal Nehru with the current political climate. "The BJP and the Mahayuti have developed a mindset that does not want any Opposition at all, and to ensure unopposed victories, those in power are going to any extent," Sapkal alleged.
He accused the administration of preventing opposition candidates from filing nominations, issuing threats, using pressure tactics, and misusing police power, all while the Election Commission remained a "mute spectator." Sapkal also trained his guns on Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, accusing him of undermining the dignity of his constitutional office for the sake of his relatives in the municipal elections. "He has obstructed Opposition candidates from filing nominations, threatened them, and misused his position," the Congress chief claimed, demanding his removal from office.
Sapkal revealed that while the Congress had written to the Election Commission seeking action against Narwekar, the commission asked for evidence. He pointed to existing CCTV footage and called for complaints to be officially recorded. Dismissing the inquiry report received so far as mere wordplay, Sapkal challenged the ruling alliance's internal dynamics, suggesting that if the matter is serious, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar should step down or the BJP should show him the door.
The growing chorus from the opposition puts significant pressure on the State Election Commission to act transparently and decisively to investigate the allegations and ensure the integrity of the local body elections in Maharashtra.
