BJP-Sena dominate uncontested seats in Maharashtra civic polls

BJP, Sena and NCP dominate uncontested seats in fractured Maharashtra civic elections

January 3, 2026

Opposition cries foul over mass withdrawals in Maharashtra civic elections

68 candidates set to win unopposed in Maharashtra civic polls

As many as 68 candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra are set to be elected unopposed in the upcoming elections to 29 municipal corporations, raising sharp questions over the integrity of the electoral process. One additional candidate from the Islam Party in Malegaon also faces no contest, taking the total to 69.

The unopposed candidates include 44 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 22 from the Shiv Sena, and two from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The figures were confirmed on Friday, the final day for withdrawal of nominations.

In total, 2,869 seats are at stake in what is shaping up to be one of the most fractured civic elections Maharashtra has witnessed, with alliance partners fighting each other in some cities while contesting jointly elsewhere.

Hotspots of unopposed victories

The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) accounts for the highest number of uncontested seats, with 22 candidates facing no rivals. KDMC is the hometown of Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan.

In KDMC’s 122-seat corporation, 15 BJP and 7 Shiv Sena candidates are unopposed.

In Jalgaon, home district of water resources minister Girish Mahajan, 12 ruling alliance candidates — six each from the BJP and Shiv Sena — face no opposition. All withdrawals against Sena candidates came from the Sena (UBT).

At the 78-seat Panvel Municipal Corporation, where the BJP and Shiv Sena are contesting together, six BJP candidates were left uncontested after Congress, PWP and Shiv Sena nominees withdrew.

In the 165-seat Pune Municipal Corporation, two BJP candidates — Manjusha Nagpure and Shrikant Jagtap — were left with a clear field following withdrawals by Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) candidates.

Opposition alleges coercion, inducements

Opposition parties have alleged that the ruling alliance used intimidation and inducements to force rival candidates to withdraw at the last minute. The unprecedented number of uncontested candidates has prompted the State Election Commission (SEC) to direct returning officers not to declare winners in these wards until an inquiry is completed.

Sena (UBT) leader and MLA Aaditya Thackeray accused the Mahayuti of subverting democracy. “The power of money is being misused to force opponents to withdraw,” he alleged.

BJP rejects allegations

Rejecting the charges, BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said opposition candidates pulled out after realising defeat was inevitable.

“It is the result of the popularity of our government and a strong electoral strategy. After our success in the first phase of local body polls, the opposition realised they cannot win in the second phase and withdrew,” he said.

With the SEC now stepping in, the unfolding civic polls are poised to become a test case for electoral fairness amid escalating political acrimony in the state.

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.