As many as 70 candidates of the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance have won unopposed in the civic polls for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, which are scheduled to take place on January 15.
Even before the campaigning began, the incumbent Mahayuti nominees got a major boost with opponents withdrawing from the race on the last date for withdrawal of nominations on Saturday.
Of the 70 candidates elected without a contest, 44 are from the BJP, 22 from Shiv Sena and two from Ajit Pawar-led NCP. None of the candidates fielded by the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi won unopposed.
Among the 44 wins that the BJP candidates secured on Saturday, 15 are from Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation; six each from Jalgaon, Bhiwandi, Panvel; four from Dhule, three from Ahilya Nagar and two each from Pimpri Chinchwad and Pune Municipal Corporations.
Of the Shiv Sena's 22 wins, seven each came from Thane and Kalyan Dombivali, six from Jalgaon, and two from Bhiwandi.
Meanwhile, the Opposition has accused the ruling partners of using money and muscle to erase competition.
BJP spokesperson Priti Gandhi said the unopposed elections signalled the good governance of Mahayuti. "When governance delivers and leadership inspires trust, opponents fail to even find candidates," she said.
Maharashtra State Election Commission said 15,931 candidates are in the fray for polls to 29 MCs on January 15. Of the 33,247 nominations that were filed for the upcoming elections, 24,771 were found to be valid after scrutiny. Of the valid nominations, 8,840 candidates - over 35 % - withdrew their candidature on Saturday, the last date for withdrawals.
The Pune MC recorded the highest number of withdrawals among the 29 civic bodies. Of the 3,061 nominations filed, 2,134 were found valid, while 968 candidates withdrew from the contest.
Counting of votes for the polls will happen on January 16. All eyes will be on the race to wrest the Brihanmumbai MC, the richest civic body in India.