Mahayuti Sweep Continues: BJP-Backed Alliance Wins 68 Seats Unopposed In Maharashtra Civic Polls

Mumbai: Ahead of the January 15 Maharashtra urban local body polls, the Mahayuti, comprising the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance and the Ajit Pawar led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has already won 68 seats unopposed, showcasing the strong foothold of the ruling alliance in the state. 

BJP leader Keshav Upadhye announced the thumping victory of the Devendra Fadnavis-led alliance on Friday. The 68 seats won include 44 from the saffron party, reflecting its growing stronghold in the local bodies, a space earlier held by regional parties like the NCP and the Shiv Sena.

In Maharashtra's 29 Municipal Corporations, the Mahayuti has secured a strong lead even before polling started, as 66 of its candidates were declared elected unopposed. After the deadline for withdrawing nominations concluded on Friday, candidates from various opposition parties and alliances withdrew their names, resulting in a total of 68 candidates being elected unopposed. 

Of the 68 winners, 66 are from the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance (44 from BJP, 22 from Shiv Sena), while two candidates are from the NCP.  Among the 44 BJP candidates who won unopposed, 15 are from the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, two from Pune Municipal Corporation, two from Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, six from Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation, six from Jalgaon Municipal Corporation, six from Panvel Municipal Corporation, four from Dhule Municipal Corporation, and three from Ahilyanagar Municipal Corporation.

The highest number of seats won was concentrated in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation in Thane.

Exuding confidence from these recent wins, Union minister and senior BJP leader Murlidhar Mohol asserted that the next mayor of Pune will be from the BJP. 

Meanwhile, Mahayuti ally Shiv Sena, led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, got 22 of its candidates getting elected unopposed. Another Mahayuti ally, Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party, won two seats unopposed.

Political experts commented that these uncontested wins will give a fresh boost to Mahayuti, after the alliance nearly swept the recently concluded municipal council elections. 

Earlier on Monday, the Mahayuti finalised its seat-sharing agreement for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, slated for January 15. The BJP will contest 137 seats, and the Shiv Sena will field candidates in 90 seats. 

As per the final tally, after scrutiny and withdrawals, 1,700 candidates remain in the fray across 227 wards of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), with 167 nominations rejected as invalid, 2,231 found valid, and 453 withdrawn.

Here's What Opposition Said

With the Mahayuti candidates wins uncontested in several seats before the Maharashtra local body polls, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi lashed out at the ruling alliance saying that democracy was being undermined either through "threats" of Enforcement Directorate (ED) or by "bribing" opposition candidates.

"The unopposed way of ending democracy where they settle with the opposition candidate, either by scaring him with the threats of ED, CBI, or by bribing him. They are trying to buy out their victories, and it is a shame that the Election Commission is staying quiet on this," Chaturvedi said speaking to reporters.

Speaking on the Raj Thakceray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)-UBT Sena alliance, Chaturvedi said, “We are confident because Shiv Sena (UBT) has been working with the people of the city and state for over 25 years. Mumbai's people continue to depose their faith in us. You are hearing what is happening in Indore, which is called the cleanest city, where over 10 people died due to contaminated water.”

"Mumbai has seen the public transport system strengthen and the BMC thrive. While the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is in debt to the tune of over Rs 1,500 crores, we deposited over Rs 19,000 crore. Mumbai will again vote for us," she added. 

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