Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut criticized the trend of unopposed elections, particularly of Mahayuti nominees in Maharashtra’s municipal polls. Raut highlighted that prominent leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi were never elected unopposed, unlike the current scenario in Maharashtra where tactics like persuasion, money, punishment, and division are allegedly used for unopposed victories.
Raut expressed concern over the unprecedented number of unopposed candidates, emphasizing that such a situation is not just rare in India but globally. He alleged that candidates were coerced to withdraw using tactics like monetary inducements, with claims of opponents being offered substantial amounts to step down.
The MP cited instances in Kalyan and Jalgaon where significant sums of money were allegedly sent to candidates to force their withdrawal. Raut also raised suspicions about the manipulation of the election process, pointing out instances where applications for withdrawal were accepted after the deadline, allegedly under instructions from higher authorities.
Raut called for an investigation into the communication logs to uncover the truth behind these unopposed withdrawals. He criticized the tarnishing of Maharashtra’s reputation due to these incidents, questioning the integrity of the election commission and demanding accountability for the alleged irregularities.
