Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MN) leader Avinash Anant Jadhav has filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court challenging the process that led to several candidates being elected unopposed in the upcoming municipal corporation elections across Maharashtra. The plea alleges that opposition candidates were “forced, intimidated, or allured into withdrawing their nominations through corrupt practices,” violating the constitutional mandate of free and fair elections.
Filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution through advocate Asim Sarode, the petition names the State of Maharashtra and the State Election Commission (SEC) as respondents. It seeks a court-monitored inquiry into what the petitioner terms “mass withdrawals” of nominations and a stay on the official notification of results in affected wards.
“The withdrawal of rival candidates was not voluntary but was the result of systemic coercion, threats, or illegal allurements, violating the ‘free and fair’ mandate of Article 243-ZA,” the plea states. It further alleges that local administration was used to facilitate uncontested wins for candidates of the ruling alliance.
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