“Polls without voting,” Actor Kishore flags concerns over unopposed election of Mahayuti candidates
Bengaluru: Popular Actor Kishore Kumar has expressed concern over the unopposed election of 68 Mahayuti alliance candidates before the polling date, January 15.
Of the 68 candidates elected unopposed across the state, 44 belong to the BJP.
In a post on his Facebook handle, Kishore wrote, "Mother of democracy- Only democracy where elections happen without voting"
The BJP-led alliance is also poised to take control of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the country’s richest civic body. Out of the 227 seats in the BMC, the Mahayuti alliance has secured 118 seats, with the BJP winning 89 seats and its ally, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), securing 29 seats.
Why did so many candidates get elected unopposed?
The unusually high number of unopposed victories in Maharashtra’s civic polls is reportedly the result of mass withdrawals by opposition candidates on the final day of nominations, leaving Mahayuti nominees as the sole contenders in several wards.
Opposition alleges coercion, money power behind withdrawals
Meanwhile, opposition parties have alleged that the unopposed elections were won through intimidation and inducements.
Leaders from the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, MNS, AAP and Samajwadi Party have claimed that rival candidates were pressured to withdraw, with allegations ranging from threats to offers of large sums of money.
According to a report by The Hindu, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that candidates were offered up to ₹5 crore to exit the race.
In the meantime, Avinash Anant Jadhav of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has filed a writ petition filed in the Bombay High Court seeking judicial intervention to probe the circumstances behind these mass withdrawals.
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Belagavi: Married man jumps into Malaprabha river with lover
Belagavi: A married young man allegedly died by suicide after jumping into the Malaprabha river along with his lover on Wednesday morning under the jurisdiction of the Ramadurga police station. The incident is said to have occurred after his family opposed his second marriage.
The deceased have been identified as Jagadish Yallappa Kavalekar (27) and Gangamma Pavadeppa Tyapi (26), both residents of Mallapur village in the taluk.
According to police, Jagadish’s wife had gone to her parental home in Bochabal village for her first delivery. Dur ing this period, discussions regarding Jagadish’s second marriage reportedly arose within the family.
When family members insisted that the issue be addressed only after his wife returned, opposition intensified, leading to tension at home.
Following the disagreement, Jagadish and Gangamma left their homes on Monday. Their bodies were found in the Malaprabha river on Wednesday morning. Upon receiving information, the Ramadurga police rushed to the spot and retrieved the bodies from the river. Police said the bodies were found embracing each other.
A case has been registered at the Ramadurga police station, and further investigation is underway.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
