Local body elections in Maharashtra have revealed a significant trend of political dynasties dominating candidate lists, with at least 29 relatives of prominent BJP leaders and multiple family members from Shiv Sena and NCP contesting the December 2 polls.
Family Politics Takes Center Stage
The upcoming municipal council elections across Maharashtra have put a sharp focus on the growing presence of political families in the electoral fray. At least 29 candidates in these local body elections are relatives of prominent BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and several state ministers. The pattern extends to alliance partners, with over a dozen dynastic nominees from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's NCP.
Remarkable Cases of Family Dominance
One of the most striking examples emerges from the Kulgaon-Badlapur Municipal Council in Thane district, where the Shinde-led Shiv Sena has allocated tickets to six members of Waman Mhatre's family. Mhatre, who serves as the Sena's Badlapur city chief, is contesting for council president alongside his wife Veena. The family representation extends to his brother Tukaram, sister-in-law Usha, son Varun, and nephew Bhavesh, all contesting from different panels.
This unprecedented concentration of tickets within one family has sparked internal controversy within the Sena, with party workers questioning the decision to allow such dominance.
The trend continues with other political families in the same council. The Shinde Sena has also fielded former councillor Pravin Raut, his wife Sheetal Raut, and sister-in-law Vijaya Raut. The BJP's candidate list shows similar patterns, featuring husband-wife duos including Ruchita and Rajendra Ghorpade, Sharad and Kavita Teli, and party general secretary Sambhaji Shinde and Urmila contesting from different wards.
Statewide Pattern of Dynastic Nominations
The phenomenon extends beyond the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to districts across Maharashtra. In Jalgaon district, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan's wife Sadhana Mahajan is contesting the Jamner Municipal Council election. Dhule district witnessed Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal's mother Nayan Kunwar Rawal being elected unopposed from the Dondaicha-Warwade Municipal Council after other nominations in her seat were withdrawn or rejected.
In Nagpur division, CM Devendra Fadnavis's cousin Aalhad Kaloti faced no opposition in his election from a seat in the Chikhaldara Municipal Council. The pattern repeats across multiple districts including Bhusawal, Khamgaon, Deolali-Pravara, Ambad, Beed, Mohol, Solapur, Karad, Satara, Baramati, Purandar, Ambegaon, Rajgurunagar, Aurangabad, Hatkanangale, Shirala, and Chiplun.
In Ambernath Municipal Council, the Shiv Sena has nominated former mayor Manisha Walekar for another term, while her husband Arvind and son Nikhil have also received tickets from nearby wards. Similarly, the BJP has nominated Tejashree Karanjule for the mayor's position alongside tickets for her husband Abhijeet and mother-in-law Alpana.
Party Justifications and Internal Concerns
According to BJP workers, these selections reflect a growing belief among local party leaders that known family names carry more weight in small-town elections, particularly when voter turnout depends on personal contacts and local community influence.
Both BJP and Sena have defended their decisions, arguing that these candidates have been active in their local communities. A senior Sena leader stated that tickets have been distributed based on winnability and merit, denying any bias. Another Mahayuti leader acknowledged that influential families tend to get tickets in every election, noting this happens across all parties during local body polls.
However, party activists maintain that such selections often crowd out ordinary members who have spent years working for their respective parties and building their bases. Many grassroots workers privately acknowledge that the trend has become stronger over recent election cycles.
Long-term Political Implications
A Mahayuti functionary from Thane revealed that local bodies are increasingly seen as stepping stones for political leaders' family members who may later contest Assembly or Lok Sabha elections. Some leaders argue that once a family becomes dominant in a municipal body, it becomes difficult for parties to deny them tickets in future elections because the family's network of supporters can influence internal decisions or shift loyalty to rival factions.
The elections to municipal councils and municipal panchayats are scheduled for December 2 across Maharashtra, with results likely to indicate whether voters accept or reject this growing trend of family-based political representation.
