Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray has made a significant appeal to the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC), calling for the cancellation of elections in wards where candidates were declared winners without a contest in the ongoing civic polls. He accused the ruling Mahayuti alliance of orchestrating a large-scale manipulation of the democratic process.
Allegations of 'Candidate Stealing' and Undermining Democracy
During a joint press conference with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday, Uddhav Thackeray launched a sharp attack. He unveiled their alliance's manifesto for the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls and simultaneously alleged foul play by the ruling coalition. "First they stole votes, now they are stealing candidates," Thackeray stated, encapsulating his core accusation.
He claimed that the ruling alliance is actively pressuring opposition nominees to withdraw their candidatures, ensuring that their own candidates face no challengers. This practice, according to Thackeray, severely undermines grassroots democracy by robbing voters of their fundamental right to choose.
The Scale of Unopposed Victories
Thackeray's allegations come in the wake of a remarkable development in the municipal corporation elections across Maharashtra. On the last day for withdrawal of nominations, which was Friday, the ruling Mahayuti coalition secured a staggering 68 out of 69 seats without a single vote being cast. The candidates in these wards were elected unopposed.
Within this sweep, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the biggest beneficiary. BJP candidates were declared winners unopposed in 44 of these seats, highlighting the scale of the phenomenon that has sparked the current controversy.
A Call for Fresh Elections and Democratic Integrity
Uddhav Thackeray's formal demand to the State Election Commission is clear and direct. He has urged the poll body to annul the unopposed victories and restart the entire election process in those affected wards. His argument is rooted in the principle of democratic choice.
"If democracy is to survive, voters must be given a choice," Thackeray emphasized. He believes that scrapping these uncontested wins and initiating a fresh nomination and polling process is the only way to ensure a fair contest and restore integrity to the electoral process at the local level.
The joint press conference, held on January 4, 2026, marks a significant moment in the lead-up to the civic polls, setting the stage for a potential confrontation between the opposition alliance and the SEC over the legitimacy of these unopposed elections.
