The State Election Commission (SEC) of Maharashtra will strictly adhere to a directive issued in December 2014 to manage the process for candidates elected unopposed in the upcoming municipal corporation elections. This move comes as over 60 candidates from 29 corporations are poised for unopposed victories.
Verification Process for Uncontested Races
Senior SEC officials confirmed to TOI on Saturday that the commission is following the order issued by the then-state election commissioner, Nand Lal. The SEC has directed all municipal commissioners to promptly submit detailed reports on candidates facing no opposition. Officials stated that follow-up actions with these commissioners will commence from the coming week.
The final tally of unopposed candidates is currently being compiled from all 29 corporations. "We are strictly following the 2014 order. Reports from municipal commissioners will undergo verification before unopposed candidates are officially declared elected. This ensures transparency and compliance with election norms," a senior SEC official explained.
Ensuring Integrity in the Electoral Process
With elections scheduled for January 15, municipal commissioners are expected to submit their reports swiftly after conducting thorough inquiries. The official stressed that SEC verification is a critical step to uphold the integrity of the polls, even in single-candidate races.
"Even if only one candidate remains, we must ensure there is no coercion or irregularity before declaring them elected," the official emphasized. The 2014 order acknowledged that it is common for only one candidate to remain in the fray after withdrawals during local body elections.
The Scale of the Upcoming Elections
This development unfolds as Maharashtra prepares for elections to 29 municipal corporations on January 15. A total of 15,931 candidates are contesting for 2,869 seats across 893 wards. While most contests are multi-cornered fights, the significant number of unopposed candidates highlights wards where political consensus or a lack of opposition has resulted in single-candidate races.
The SEC has made it mandatory for municipal commissioners to submit comprehensive reports on all unopposed candidates before the commission formally declares them elected. This procedural rigor aims to maintain public trust in the democratic process.
