Archive · 4 Jan 2026
Maharashtra Civic Polls: Opposition Demands Cancellation of Unopposed Wins
In the upcoming Maharashtra civic polls, many candidates from the ruling BJP and Shinde Shiv Sena alliance won without any competition.
This means they didn't have to face any other candidates in the election.
The election commission is now checking to make sure these wins were fair and that no one was forced to withdraw from the race.
The BJP says these wins show people support their work, but the opposition wants an investigation to ensure everything was done properly.
The commission is waiting for reports from local officials before declaring the final results.
The opposition leaders, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, have demanded the cancellation of these unopposed wins and a fresh election process.
They also accused the Assembly Speaker of violating the model code of conduct and pressuring opposition candidates.
68 of 69 no-contest seats across municipal corporations in Maharashtra saw unopposed victories for the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has put the declaration of results on hold and sought reports from local officials to confirm no foul play.
The BJP and Shinde Shiv Sena alliance won 66 of the 68 unopposed seats, with the BJP securing 44 and Shinde Sena 22.
The Opposition has raised concerns and demanded an investigation into the unopposed elections, alleging potential coercion or misuse of power.
The SEC is following a 2004 instruction to verify that nomination withdrawals were not due to pressure or intimidation.
- Who
- Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC), BJP, Shinde Shiv Sena, Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Rahul Narwekar
- What
- Opposition demands cancellation of unopposed wins in Maharashtra civic polls
- When
- Less than two weeks before the polls scheduled for January 15
- Where
- Municipal corporations across Maharashtra
- Why
- To ensure fair elections and democratic process
- Number of unopposed seats
- 68 of 69
- Alliance with most unopposed wins
- BJP (44)
- Date of polls
- January 15
- Opposition alliance
- Maha Vikas Aghadi
- SEC's action
- Sought reports from local officials
- BJP's stance
- Credited wins to development work
- Opposition's demand
- Investigation into unopposed elections
- Allegations against Speaker
- Violation of model code of conduct
Sources
Maharashtra civic polls: Walkover for many BJP-Sena nominees, SEC seeks reports
Thackeray cousins flag ‘insult to democracy’ as ruling alliance candidates elected unopposed in BMC polls
Scrap civic polls with unopposed wins, restart process in those wards: Uddhav to SEC
"Turning Maharashtra Into UP, Bihar": Thackeray Cousins Attack Mahayuti
BMC Election 2026: Uddhav Thackeray Urges State Election Commission To 'Cancel Elections Where Candidates Chosen Unopposed...'
Scrap civic polls with unopposed wins: Uddhav to EC
Raj Thackeray Enters Sena Bhavan After 20 Years As Maharashtra Politics Change Again
Don’t rob Gen Z of votes: Uddhav demands cancellation of 68 ‘unopposed’ civic wins
8.6% fewer candidates in Maharashtra civic polls: Panvel, Mumbai, Kolhapur see up to 39% dip