Mumbai— Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Avinash Jadhav on Monday approached the Bombay High Court challenging the “unopposed” victories of several candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the upcoming civic body elections scheduled for January 15.
In his petition filed through advocate Asim Sarode, Jadhav alleged large-scale coercion and inducement behind the mass withdrawal of opposition candidates. He sought a court-monitored inquiry into what he termed “systemic and unlawful practices” that led to candidates being declared elected unopposed.
The plea also requested a stay on the declaration of results in 68 seats where candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena have claimed unopposed victories. According to the petition, rival candidates were forced, intimidated or lured into withdrawing their nomination papers, undermining the principles of free and fair elections.
It further argued that the withdrawals were not voluntary but occurred due to threats and illegal inducements, violating Article 243-ZA of the Constitution, which mandates independent and fair conduct of municipal elections.
The petition noted that the Maharashtra State Election Commission has already ordered a statewide inquiry into nearly 69 to 70 candidates who were declared elected unopposed across 29 municipal corporations, following serious allegations of coercion and malpractice during the nomination process.
The matter is expected to come up for hearing in due course. Polling for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra will take place on January 15, with counting scheduled for the following day.
