Maharashtra local body polls: Why BJP's claim of '100 unopposed wins' has made Opposition see red

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has dismissed the Opposition's allegations. (File: PTI)

A remark by Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan that 100 party councillors have already been elected unopposed ahead of the upcoming local body polls scheduled to be held later this year in the state has triggered a political storm, with the Opposition accusing the ruling party of intimidation, misuse of power and promoting dynastic politics.

According to Chavan, four councillors who were elected unopposed hailed from the Konkan region, 49 from North Maharashtra, 41 from Western Maharashtra and three each from the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions.

A total of 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats are scheduled to go to polls on December 2 in the first phase, with the results being declared a day later.

Calling the municipal polls a "farce", state Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal accused the BJP of "blatantly misusing power". "They used the term 'jungle raj' in Bihar but are intimidating Opposition candidates. They have crossed all limits," he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Ambadas Danve targeted the BJP's ally, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, questioning whether free and fair elections were possible when top leaders were "threatening" voters.

"When the Deputy CM, who is also the Finance Minister, bargains for votes citing development funds, what kind of free and fair polls are we talking about? What is the Election Commission doing?" Danve asked.

His attack came in reference to Ajit Pawar's speech at a Malegaon rally on Saturday. "I am ready to deliver everything I have promised if you ensure victory of all my 18 candidates… Votes are in your hand, funds are in mine," he had said.

Amid a backlash over the remarks, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed criticism of Ajit's comments in Nagpur on Sunday, saying political leaders "often try to push their party workers or candidates" and that it did not imply that they were indulging in "wrongdoing or luring voters".

Fadnavis also rejected allegations of coercion as "baseless", insisting the BJP "believes and strictly adheres to democracy and the election mechanism". "It (being elected unopposed) only demonstrates the people's trust in the BJP leadership and the party's development work," he said.

However, his defence contrasts with recent controversies involving BJP leaders. Last week, minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule drew criticism after telling party workers in Gadchiroli "not to worry about expenses", though he later claimed he was referring to office arrangements, not election spending. Earlier, minister Nitish Rane caused an uproar for saying villages "not associating with the BJP" would not get development funds.

The Opposition also accused the BJP of hypocrisy over dynasty politics, highlighting several relatives of BJP leaders elected unopposed.

In Jamner, minister Girish Mahajan's wife, Sadhana Mahajan, became municipal council president after Opposition candidates withdrew. In Dondaicha-Varwade, minister Jaykumar Rawal's mother, Nayan Kunwar Rawal, was elected unopposed after the Opposition nominee's papers were rejected. The candidate, Sharyu Bhavsar, accused the minister of exerting "pressure tactics".

In Chikhaldara, Chief Minister Fadnavis's cousin Alhad Kaloti was elected council president unopposed, prompting Congress leader Yashomati Thakur to allege "intimidation and inducement".

Several other BJP leaders, including ministers Aakash Fundkar, Sanjay Savkare and Ashok Uike, former MP Ramdas Tadas, and MLAs Mangesh Chavan and Prakash Bharsakle, have family members contesting or being elected without opposition.