BJP and Allies Sweep 68 Seats in Maharashtra Civic Polls Uncontested, Opposition Accuses of 'Mobocracy'

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In a surprise turn of events, 68 candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its Mahayuti alliance have won their seats unopposed in the upcoming Maharashtra civic polls. The ruling alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and the Ajit Pawar fold of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is celebrating the victory, but the opposition has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the win. According to officials, a total of 2,869 seats are up for grabs in the polls, which are scheduled to take place on January 15. Among these, 44 BJP candidates, 22 Shiv Sena candidates, and two NCP candidates are set to win their seats unopposed, as they have no challengers. The opposition has alleged that the ruling alliance used threats and money to force rival candidates to withdraw their nominations before the deadline. The State Election Commission (SEC) has ordered returning officers not to declare the results in these wards until an investigation is completed. The largest number of uncontested candidates is in the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC), where 22 candidates are running unopposed. This has raised concerns about the fairness of the polls and the role of the Election Commission in ensuring a free and fair election. Opposition parties, including the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), have accused the ruling alliance of 'mobocracy' and demanded an investigation into the allegations. They claim that the BJP and its allies used intimidation and bribery to ensure that their rivals withdrew their nominations. The upcoming polls are expected to be the most divided civic elections in Maharashtra, with allies competing against each other and long-time rivals fighting as partners. The opposition has vowed to take their complaints to the people and ensure that the polls are free and fair.