Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jan 3: Ahead of voting in civic body elections across Maharashtra, as many as 68 candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance have been elected unopposed, underlining the coalition’s strong grassroots presence. Of these, 44 candidates belong to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Friday was the last day for withdrawal of nomination papers, during which several candidates from rival parties and alliances pulled out, paving the way for the Mahayuti nominees to be declared elected without a contest.

The Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region recorded the highest number of unopposed winners, with 21 Mahayuti candidates elected — 15 from the BJP and six from the Shiv Sena.

In north Maharashtra, Jalgaon, considered a stronghold of both the BJP and the Shiv Sena, saw 12 unopposed corporators, with each party securing six seats. A similar trend was seen in Panvel in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, where seven BJP candidates were elected uncontested.

The BJP also registered six unopposed wins in Bhiwandi, a region that has traditionally been a stronghold of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar faction). In Thane, despite signs of friction with the BJP in deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s home district, the Shiv Sena managed to secure six uncontested victories. Meanwhile, the Raj Thackeray-led MNS staged protests in the district, questioning the process adopted by the ruling alliance.

In Dhule, three BJP candidates were elected unopposed, while in Ahilya Nagar, the NCP secured two uncontested seats and the BJP one.

Political observers said the unopposed victories have given a fresh boost to the ruling Mahayuti following its near clean sweep in the recent municipal council elections. They added that the development would allow alliance partners to divert resources and focus on campaigning in other contested areas.