BJP's Century of Unopposed Wins Draws Political Fire
In a significant development in Maharashtra's political landscape, the Bharatiya Janata Party has announced that 100 of its candidates have been elected unopposed in the ongoing local self-government body polls, sparking heated reactions from opposition parties who allege the ruling party is implementing what they sarcastically term a "Family Welfare Scheme."
The controversy erupted on Saturday when BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhaye proudly declared that the party had "started with a century" in the local elections. Among the notable unopposed victories are Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' maternal brother Alhad Kaloti, who has been elected as councillor from Chikhaldara Municipal Council, and Sadhana Mahajan, wife of Cabinet Minister Girish Mahajan, elected as president of Jamner Municipal Council.
Opposition Cries Foul Over Democratic Process
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar launched a scathing attack on the BJP, stating that "all this has become possible through pressure tactics employed by the BJP." He accused the Mahayuti alliance of misusing government machinery to ensure their candidates' victories.
"It is a murder of democracy," Wadettiwar emphasized. "Misusing power and using pressure tactics on opposition candidates, several BJP candidates have managed to win unopposed while forcing opposition candidates to withdraw from the race."
The Congress leader further underlined that intimidation has become a tool to ensure victories, adding that "because of the chief minister, BJP office-bearers have become emboldened to do what they want."
Family Connections Dominate Election Results
The pattern of relatives securing positions has become particularly noticeable. In addition to the chief minister's brother and cabinet minister's wife, Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal's mother has been elected unopposed as president of the Dondaicha-Varwade Municipal Council in Dhule district.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve expressed strong concerns about this trend, questioning why all the relatives of BJP leaders are getting elected unopposed while ordinary party workers struggle to secure positions. "Power has gone to BJP's head," Danve stated. "It is misusing the government machinery to ensure unopposed victories of its candidates."
The NCP (SP) joined the criticism, with MLA Rohit Pawar taunting the BJP about implementing a "Family Welfare Scheme" in local body polls. "BJP has been raking up the issue of dynastic rule but in the local self government body polls, it is implementing Family Welfare Yojana," Pawar remarked, adding that the party was showing how it is a 'party with a difference.'
BJP Defends Victory as People's Mandate
Responding to the opposition's allegations, BJP leader and Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule defended the results, expressing gratitude to the people of Maharashtra. "In assembly election, BJP scored more than three votes. And now, BJP has secured more than 100 unopposed elections," Bawankule stated.
The minister predicted that when the final results are declared, Mahayuti would secure 51 percent votes and a two-third majority in all local self-government bodies. He attributed the success to people's faith in Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's ability to ensure development.
As the political debate intensifies, the unopposed elections have raised fundamental questions about the health of democratic processes in Maharashtra's local governance institutions, with opposition parties demanding free, fair, and transparent elections that they claim are currently absent from the political landscape.
