In a significant development ahead of the upcoming civic body elections, a notable number of candidates in Maharashtra are set to win without a contest. According to the latest information, 59 out of the total 2,869 posts across the state's municipal corporations are heading for unopposed victories.
Legal Stance Rules Out NOTA in Uncontested Wards
The State Election Commission (SEC) has clarified the legal position regarding these uncontested seats. With polls scheduled for January 15, the commission stated that elections will not be conducted in wards where only one candidate is in the fray. Officials explicitly ruled out holding a poll with the None of the Above (NOTA) option as the sole alternative to the single candidate.
State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare explained the statutory basis for this decision. "The statute clearly lays down that in the case of a single unopposed candidate, no poll is to be held. A poll cannot be held with NOTA as the other option. There is no provision for this," he stated. He pointed out that this rule is enshrined in the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act and the Representation of the People Act.
Political Reactions and Allegations Surface
The trend of unopposed elections has drawn sharp reactions from political parties and civil society groups. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that 68 candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance are winning unopposed across the state's civic corporations. BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said that of these, 44 are from the BJP, with the largest number of such wins coming from the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation.
In contrast, the Opposition has launched a scathing attack on the phenomenon. The Congress party alleged that unfair means were used to engineer these uncontested wins. AICC secretary Sachin Sawant criticized the development, calling it fundamentally anti-democratic. "The phenomenon of unopposed elections is fundamentally anti-democratic. Such outcomes violate the basic right of citizens to vote...repeated acceptance of unopposed elections raises serious concerns and gives the impression that the election commission is functioning under undue pressure rather than acting as an independent constitutional authority," Sawant said. He insinuated that money and threats were used to compel rival candidates to withdraw from the contest.
Democratic Debate Intensifies
The SEC's decision has reignited a debate on electoral democracy and voter choice. Civil society organizations have been persistently demanding that polls be held with the NOTA option even in wards with a single candidate, arguing that this would uphold the democratic principle of choice and allow voters to express their dissatisfaction.
As the state prepares for the January 15 elections, the focus remains on the substantial number of seats that will see no electoral battle. The controversy underscores the tension between existing legal frameworks and evolving public expectations for broader democratic participation and expression in the electoral process.
