In a significant embarrassment for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, two of its officially announced candidates failed to submit their nomination papers before the critical deadline. The lapse has thrown a spotlight on the party's last-minute candidate selection process.
A Critical Missed Deadline
The deadline for filing nomination papers for the upcoming civic polls was 5 pm on December 30. However, candidates Shakeel Ansari from Ward 211 and Mandakini Khamkar from Ward 212 did not submit their forms to the Returning Officer. Krishna Jadhav, the officer overseeing both wards, confirmed to the Times of India that he received no application forms from the two individuals.
This failure occurred despite both names featuring on the BJP's official candidate list, which was circulated on December 31, a day after the deadline had passed. Both Ansari and Khamkar are first-time entrants into electoral politics.
Reasons and Reactions
A senior BJP functionary explained the lapse by citing missing documentation. According to the functionary, the candidates had to return to arrange certain bank-related papers and, in doing so, missed the strict 5 pm cutoff. This administrative error has cost the party its chance to contest in these two wards.
However, political observers see this episode as symptomatic of a larger, troubling trend in the current election cycle. Many major parties, including the BJP, delayed announcing their candidates until the final days, primarily due to fears of cross-party defections and poaching. The nomination process began on December 23, but most announcements were held back. This strategy of eleventh-hour finalizations appears to have backfired for the BJP in this instance, leading to an avoidable logistical failure.
Political Significance of the Wards
The two wards in question present interesting political backgrounds. Local politicians note that both areas have a limited base of BJP loyalists, making the candidate selection even more crucial.
Ward 211 has historical political significance. It was previously represented by Samajwadi Party leader Rais Shaikh, who won the seat in the 2017 BMC elections. Shaikh later went on to become an MLA from Bhiwandi in 2019.
Ward 212 was formerly held by Geeta Gawli, the daughter of gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli. Demonstrating a contrast in preparedness, Geeta Gawli was among the first candidates to file her nomination, representing the Akhil Bharatiya Sena at the Richardson election centre in Byculla. Her sister, Yogita Gawli, has also submitted her nomination from the adjacent Ward 207.
The BJP's failure to field candidates in these wards not only cedes ground to rivals but also raises questions about the party's internal coordination and planning mechanisms in the high-stakes battle for control of India's richest municipal corporation.
