In a significant political development in Maharashtra, Alhad Kaloti, the cousin of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has been elected unopposed to the Chikhaldara Municipal Council in the Amravati district. The BJP nominee's path to victory was cleared after all other prospective candidates in the fray withdrew their nomination papers.
The Uncontested Victory and Key Players
The election, which was scheduled for November, concluded without a ballot being cast. The sequence of events that led to this uncontested win has become a major point of discussion. Local leaders from opposition parties have asserted that Independent MLA Ravi Rana played a pivotal role in facilitating this outcome, ensuring no one stood against Kaloti.
This claim found further traction when a video was shared on Ravi Rana's official Facebook page. The video grab showed a telephonic conversation where Chief Minister Fadnavis personally congratulated Rana. In the same video, the newly elected Alhad Kaloti is heard telling the Chief Minister, "All the credit goes to Ravi Rana." This public acknowledgment has intensified the political discourse surrounding the election.
Political Controversy and Opposition Reaction
The unopposed election has not been without controversy and has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. Senior Congress leader Yashomati Thakur was vocal in her condemnation of the event. In a video statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), she accused the ruling party of using strong-arm tactics.
"They are in power, they do blackmail, they can do anything, that is a fact," Thakur stated. However, she expressed confidence in her party's support, adding, "But our people are strong; they are not afraid of anyone... Even in the surveys, the hand (Congress symbol) is ahead." She insisted that if a transparent election were held, the Congress and its allies would emerge victorious.
Thakur also raised suspicions about the motives behind ensuring an uncontested win, alleging that "their full attention is on the lands there," hinting at potential ulterior motives related to property in the scenic tourist destination of Chikhaldara.
The Winning Candidate's Perspective
In an interview with The Indian Express, Alhad Kaloti presented a different narrative. He framed his unopposed election as a collective decision by the people of Chikhaldara who are yearning for development. He emphasized that the region's progress in tourism had stalled and that the locals believed he could help channel the "Vikasachi Ganga" (stream of development) associated with his cousin, CM Fadnavis.
"This election was taken into their own hands by the people themselves," Kaloti claimed. He stated that the other candidates voluntarily withdrew their nominations to send a unified message that development for Chikhaldara was paramount. According to him, they told him directly that they were stepping aside "for my sake, because they wanted to send the message that Chikhaldara's development is essential."
This event in Chikhaldara underscores the complex interplay of family, political influence, and local governance in Maharashtra's political landscape, setting the stage for future political confrontations in the region.
