Fadnavis shrugs off democracy charge over 68 unopposed Mahayuti victories
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday hit back at Opposition parties over their criticism of the ruling Mahayuti alliance’s unopposed victories in 68 civic wards, dismissing their objections with a pointed remark during a rally in Dhule.
“Tumko mirchi lagi toh main kya karoon? (What can I do if you feel the sting and get offended?),” Fadnavis said, mocking the Opposition’s allegations that democracy was being undermined ahead of the January 15 municipal corporation elections across the state.
Addressing a public meeting in north Maharashtra’s Dhule district, the Chief Minister thanked voters for electing four BJP corporators unopposed in the city. “We accept this support wholeheartedly,” he said.
Rejecting claims that unopposed wins signal democratic erosion, Fadnavis reminded critics that such outcomes were not uncommon in the past. “So far, 35 Lok Sabha MPs have been elected unopposed in India, and 33 of them were during the Congress regime,” he pointed out.
Taking a swipe at the Opposition’s alleged double standards, Fadnavis said, “When unopposed elections happened during your tenure, democracy was not in danger. When it happens during our time, suddenly democracy is under threat.”
Describing Dhule as the gateway to Maharashtra, bordering Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, the Chief Minister claimed the city had witnessed real development only after the BJP came to power following the formation of the municipal corporation in 2003.
The controversy over uncontested victories escalated on Monday when the issue reached the Bombay High Court. A Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader sought a stay on the declaration of results in 68 wards, alleging “mass withdrawals” of candidates under coercion and demanding a court-monitored probe.
Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray urged the State Election Commission to cancel the results in the uncontested wards, arguing that such victories deprive Gen Z and first-time voters of their democratic right to vote.
State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal also attacked the BJP-led Mahayuti, alleging that its “greed for power has reached the point of swallowing democracy.”
For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.
Love Fadnavis, Love Maha-RASH-tra.