Overview
- The State Election Commission reports 33,606 nominations for 29 corporations, including 2,516 for Mumbai’s BMC, where 167 papers were invalidated, leaving about 2,231 candidates.
- Rejections during scrutiny include 131 in Pune, 117 in Navi Mumbai and 77 in Bhiwandi, with some contests narrowing to straight fights such as Mumbai’s Borivli West Ward 15.
- The BJP has six candidates declared elected unopposed following scrutiny outcomes, with early wins in Kalyan-Dombivli, Panvel and Dhule.
- Paperwork delays tied to fractured seat negotiations are forcing independent runs, as PCMC confirmed late or missing party AB forms for three BJP and two Shinde Sena candidates.
- Opposition leaders in Thane accused a returning officer of bias during scrutiny, while key deadlines now loom: withdrawals on Jan 2, symbol allotment on Jan 3, voting on Jan 15 and counting on Jan 16.