Uddhav Thackeray has called for the cancellation and rerun of civic elections in municipal wards where candidates were elected unopposed, arguing that the process has undermined democratic choice and favoured ruling parties. Speaking at a joint public event alongside Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray on Sunday, the Shiv Sena chief said the growing number of uncontested victories reflected a deeper erosion of electoral fairness rather than genuine public consensus.Thackeray alleged that the electoral environment in several civic bodies had been distorted by pressure tactics, misuse of administrative machinery and the narrowing of political space for opposition candidates. He claimed that aspirants from non-ruling parties were discouraged from filing nominations or forced to withdraw, resulting in walkovers that denied voters the opportunity to exercise their franchise. According to him, democracy was being hollowed out and replaced by what he described as “mobocracy”, where power was consolidated through intimidation rather than consent.
Municipal corporations, councils and panchayats across Maharashtra have seen delays and disputes over elections during the past few years, with litigation over ward delimitation, reservation policies and the tenure of elected bodies. Where elections have been held, several wards have recorded uncontested outcomes, particularly in urban local bodies where political competition is intense. Thackeray argued that these outcomes warranted scrutiny because civic institutions are the closest tier of governance to citizens and shape everyday services such as water supply, sanitation and local infrastructure.
At the joint appearance, which itself drew attention due to the historically adversarial relationship between the Shiv Sena and the MNS, Thackeray said the demand for fresh polls was not aimed at any single party but at restoring public faith in the electoral process. He stressed that unopposed elections should be an exception arising from consensus, not a pattern driven by fear or coercion. Raj Thackeray echoed concerns over shrinking democratic space, warning that local self-governance would lose legitimacy if voters felt excluded.
The ruling alliance in the state has rejected allegations of systematic wrongdoing, maintaining that uncontested elections occur when opposition parties fail to organise credible candidates or mobilise support. Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies have argued that the Election Commission of India and the State Election Commission oversee the process and that any grievances should be addressed through legal channels rather than political rallies. They contend that opposition claims are an attempt to mask organisational weaknesses at the grassroots level.
Election law experts note that the cancellation of completed elections is an extraordinary step and typically requires clear evidence of coercion, corruption or large-scale procedural violations. While courts have intervened in the past to order repolls in specific booths or wards where malpractice was proven, a blanket rerun of uncontested wards would face significant legal hurdles. However, they also acknowledge that a rising number of unopposed results can indicate structural problems, including unequal access to resources and prolonged delays that advantage incumbents.
Thackeray’s remarks come at a time when opposition parties in Maharashtra are recalibrating strategies ahead of forthcoming local body elections that have been pending due to constitutional and legal disputes. The Shiv Sena, which emerged after the party split in 2022, has sought to position itself as a defender of democratic norms, frequently accusing the state and central governments of using investigative agencies and administrative levers to weaken rivals. By sharing a platform with Raj Thackeray, Uddhav signalled a willingness to build issue-based unity on questions of governance and electoral integrity.
Civil society groups monitoring elections have also flagged concerns about prolonged administrator rule in civic bodies whose elected terms have expired. They argue that delays in conducting polls, followed by uncontested outcomes, dilute accountability and weaken local democracy. Some activists have called for reforms such as stricter scrutiny of nomination withdrawals, greater transparency in the role of local officials and time-bound election schedules to prevent manipulation.