Congress slams Mahayuti over unopposed wins in Maharashtra civic polls

Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal on Monday (January 5, 2026) accused the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance of “swallowing democracy” through coercive tactics in the run-up to the January 15 municipal elections. His remarks come amid mounting controversy over reports that 68 candidates from the ruling alliance have already secured unopposed victories across the State.  While he sought that elections be held in all these wards, where voters be given NOTA option, an MNS leader approached the Bombay High Court seeking a court-monitored probe in it.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Sapkal alleged that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar have “wrapped up democracy” by using pressure, threats, and money power to force rival candidates out of the fray. “The principle of free and fair elections has been severely compromised. A blatant money game is underway even before polling,” he said, adding that the Election Commission has remained a “mute spectator” to these developments. 

The civic polls cover 893 wards across 29 municipal corporations, with 33,606 nominations filed for 2,869 seats, according to the State Election Commission (SEC). The controversy erupted after several opposition candidates withdrew their nominations on the last day, paving the way for uncontested wins in multiple wards. Unofficial tallies show the BJP has bagged 44 of these seats, Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction 22, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP two, while one seat went to an Islamic party candidate. These victories span key municipal corporations, including Kalyan-Dombivli (15 BJP, 7 Sena), Thane (7 Sena), Jalgaon (6 BJP, 6 Sena), Panvel (6 BJP), Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad (2 BJP each), Dhule (4 BJP), and Ahilyanagar (3 BJP). 

Mr. Sapkal demanded that voters be allowed to exercise the NOTA (None of the Above) option even in wards where candidates have been elected unopposed. “Citizens must have the right to reject candidates. Denying this choice undermines the very essence of democracy,” he said. He also invoked Jawaharlal Nehru’s inclusive cabinet as an example of democratic values, contrasting it with what he described as the current regime’s “hunger for power.” 

The Congress leader further targeted Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, accusing him of misusing his constitutional position to benefit relatives contesting from Colaba wards. Mr. Sapkal alleged that Mr. Narwekar obstructed opposition candidates and weakened the anti-defection law, demanding that the President of India dismiss him from office. “Holders of constitutional positions are expected to rise above political bias, but Narwekar has failed to do so,” Mr. Sapkal charged. Mr. Narwekar has denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated. 

Legal battle over unopposed victory 

A writ petition filed in the Bombay High Court by Avinash Anant Jadhav, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader, sought judicial intervention to probe the circumstances behind these mass withdrawals. The plea argues that the withdrawals were not voluntary but the result of systemic coercion and inducements, violating Article 243-ZA’s mandate for free and fair elections. 

It also calls for a High Court-monitored inquiry and legislative reforms to mandate a minimum vote share for candidates elected unopposed, a proposal recently endorsed by the Supreme Court, which observed that such a provision would protect voters’ right to reject candidates via NOTA and prevent misuse of power in uncontested elections. 

The petition highlights that the SEC, despite ordering an inquiry and directing officials not to declare results until the probe is complete, saw its orders flouted by returning officers in several wards. It adds that as per news articles in The Hindu and others, SEC officials clarified that official results will not be declared until reports from municipal commissioners and district collectors are submitted, even if this means delaying announcements beyond January 16. “There is no deadline. We will check if withdrawals happened under duress, pressure, or inducement,” an SEC official told The Hindu, the petition quoted.  

Meanwhile, opposition leaders have alleged large-scale misuse of money power. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed that candidates were offered ₹5 crore to withdraw nominations, while MNS leader Yashwant Jadhav alleged similar inducements. The BJP has dismissed these charges as baseless. State BJP president Ravindra Chavan said the unopposed victories reflect public confidence in the government’s development work. “Opposition candidates withdrew because they knew they couldn’t win,” he said. 

With civic polls scheduled for January 15 and results due on January 16, the controversy has cast a shadow over Maharashtra’s democratic process, Mr. Sapkal said, adding, “If this trend continues, elections will become a sham, and democracy will be reduced to a mere slogan.”