NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule has written to the Maharashtra State Election Commissioner alleging that several candidates in the upcoming local body polls are being forced to withdraw under pressure, enabling unopposed victories
NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule. Filepic
Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) MP and national working president Supriya Sule on Tuesday wrote to the Maharashtra State Election Commissioner, alleging that several aspirants in the upcoming local body polls are being pressured to withdraw from the fray by "vested interests" to ensure unopposed victories.
As reported by news agency PTI, Supriya Sule has also flagged a "worrying trend" wherein candidates are getting elected unopposed in the run-up to elections after their challengers are being forced out of the contest through "threat, pressure, and coercion".
The NCP (SP) MP further raised these allegations days after Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan claimed that 100 councillors of the ruling party were elected unopposed in municipal councils and nagar panchayats across the state in the run-up to local body polls.
Earlier, the opposition parties had also alleged that the BJP's tradition of dynastic politics has now reached grassroots-level polls. They also alleged that pressure was put on the police machinery to ensure unopposed wins for relatives of leaders.
Elections to the 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats in the state are to be conducted on December 2, while the civic corporation polls are expected to take place in January 2026.
While writing a letter to the State Election Commissioner, Supriya Sule, the daughter of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, requested that authorities ensure the election process remains fair and transparent.
Sule, in her letter to the SEC, wrote, "Maharashtra has a strong, inclusive and dialogue-based democratic tradition. The architect of modern Maharashtra, Yashwantrao Chavan, ensured that the democratic process reached every village through local body elections, enabling new leadership to emerge," with inputs from PTI.
The NCP (SP) further alleged that the "greed for power has led to local body polls being increasingly held unopposed".
Sule also emphasised, "Threats and intimidation of candidates are extremely serious and completely unacceptable in a democracy," as quoted by news agency PTI.
While writing the letter to the SEC, Supriya Sule further demanded that elections be conducted in a free and fearless atmosphere to uphold democratic values.
"Unfortunately, this does not seem to be happening now. Hence, I have expressed my concern to the State Election Commissioner," the NCP (SP) MP added.
(With inputs from PTI)
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