Senior Maharashtra leaders met on the final day for nomination withdrawals as municipal elections across the state moved towards a decisive phase. Devendra Fadnavis, the state Chief Minister, and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde held discussions with Ramdas Athawale, president of the Republican Party of India (Athawale faction), after Athawale announced he would contest separately from the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Maharashtra municipal elections: seat talks and candidate withdrawals
Sources close to the negotiations said Athawale has fielded candidates on roughly 30 wards. The coalition has proposed offering the RPI(A) around eight to ten seats from its quota in return for Athawale’s remaining candidates withdrawing their nominations. The last day for name withdrawal fell on the same day as the meetings, and officials expect the final contest list to become clear once withdrawals are complete.
The talks represent a last-minute attempt to avoid vote splitting in key municipal battles, including the high-profile Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Party workers and leaders spent the day in outreach to dissident candidates. In Ghhatkopar’s ward 130, reports indicate the BJP successfully persuaded several rebel candidates to step down, while in other areas some contenders refused to withdraw.
Polling for the BMC and other municipal bodies has been scheduled for 15 January. The civic body announced that 10,231 polling centres will be set up across the city to make voting accessible for residents. Election officials said the expanded network of centres aims to reduce travel time and improve turnout on polling day.
The wider municipal cycle has produced mixed early results for the Mahayuti alliance outside Mumbai. The alliance recorded gains in several cities: the BJP won five seats in Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation, two in Dhule, one in Bhiwandi and one in Panvel. The Shinde group secured four seats in KDMC and one in Jalgaon. Separately, Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP scored an uncontested win in one Ahilyanagar ward.
Ticket distribution disputes surfaced in Nashik where local BJP workers protested against recent candidate selections. Demonstrators alleged that long-serving loyalists were overlooked in favour of recent party entrants. Protesters rallied outside the party office on Nashik Road, targeting MLA Rahul Dhikale and demanding clarity on candidate choices. Party officials, including city president Sunil Kedar, sought to calm the crowd but were themselves besieged at one point. RPI(A) supporters later joined the demonstration, accusing the alliance of neglecting smaller partners during seat-sharing talks. Police subsequently escorted leaders from the office and the premises was closed for security reasons.
With nomination withdrawals now concluded, parties will have a clearer picture of the electoral field ahead of polling. Observers say the outcome of these negotiations could shape control of several municipal corporations and influence state-level political dynamics. Campaign teams will now focus on mobilising voters at the newly announced polling centres and finalising ground-level strategies for 15 January.
Key Takeaways:
- Senior leaders held talks on the final day for nomination withdrawals ahead of the Maharashtra municipal elections, seeking seat adjustments.
- RPI(A) leader Ramdas Athawale may receive 8–10 seats from the alliance in exchange for other candidates withdrawing.
- Protests over ticket allocation occurred in Nashik and Athawale supporters joined demonstrations at the BJP office.
- BMC polling is set for 15 January with 10,231 polling centres announced to improve voter access.
