In a decisive move against internal dissent, the Congress party has expelled two of its functionaries in Kalyan for withdrawing their nominations in the ongoing Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) elections. This action directly led to unopposed victories for candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance, sparking allegations of foul play and highlighting intense political maneuvering.
Expulsions for "Anti-Party Activity"
The Kalyan District Congress Committee took the stern step of expelling Laxman Ambhore and Chetan Bhandari with immediate effect. The party leadership labeled their last-minute decision to withdraw candidacies as a serious act of "anti-party activity". Ambhore had filed his nomination from Panel 23-D, while Bhandari was contesting from Panel 1-A.
District Congress president Rajabhau Patkar strongly condemned the move, stating that the actions of the two leaders amounted to gross indiscipline and were against the core interests of the party. According to internal reports, both candidates pulled out without seeking prior permission from or even informing senior party officials, a clear violation of established party discipline.
Impact on KDMC Election Results
The expulsions are directly linked to the electoral advantage gained by the ruling Mahayuti coalition. The party stated that Laxman Ambhore's sudden withdrawal ensured a walkover for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Jayesh Mhatre in his ward. Similarly, Chetan Bhandari's exit significantly lowered the competitive pressure on Shiv Sena candidate Jaywant Bhoir in Panel 1-A, effectively handing him the seat.
This incident is part of a larger trend observed in the KDMC elections. A total of 20 candidates have been elected unopposed. While two seats received no rival nominations at all, in 18 other wards, candidates withdrew their papers after filing. Of these 20 uncontested winners, 14 belong to the BJP and six are from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, both key constituents of the Mahayuti alliance.
Allegations and Denials
The series of withdrawals has ignited a political firestorm, with opposition parties leveling serious accusations against the ruling combine. Congress and other opponents have alleged that money power, pressure tactics, and intimidation were employed to force candidates into withdrawing their nominations, thereby engineering uncontested wins.
The ruling Mahayuti alliance has firmly denied these allegations. They have dismissed the claims as baseless and a sign of frustration from parties unable to put up a strong fight in the civic polls. The expulsions by Congress are seen as an attempt to control the damage and send a strong message to prevent any further such incidents within its ranks during the election period.
