Overview
- Rival withdrawals on the final day cleared the way for unopposed wins across multiple corporations including Kalyan-Dombivli, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Panvel, Bhiwandi, Dhule, Jalgaon and Ahilyanagar.
- The tally reported by several outlets stands at 68 seats: 44 for the BJP, 22 for the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and two for Ajit Pawar’s NCP, with the largest cluster in KDMC (22) followed by Jalgaon (about 12).
- The SEC has told returning officers not to announce unopposed winners and has sought reports from municipal commissioners, police and district collectors to determine whether pressure or inducements drove withdrawals.
- Opposition leaders allege intimidation, bribery and misuse of administrative machinery; the poll body has also sought a report on claims that Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar pressured a returning officer in Mumbai’s Ward A.
- Mahayuti leaders deny wrongdoing and credit organisational strength, while voting for 29 municipal corporations is set for January 15 with counting on January 16.