There has been a sharp fall in the number of candidates contesting the upcoming municipal corporation elections across Maharashtra, including Mumbai.
Data from 29 civic bodies shows an overall decline of 8.6% compared to the previous polls. The total number of final contestants has dropped from 17,432 earlier to 15,931 this time.
The decline is most visible in large urban centres. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) has recorded some of the steepest falls. In four out of nine corporations in the region, the drop ranges from 25% to 39%. Mumbai, the state’s largest civic body with 227 seats, has seen the number of candidates fall from 2,275 to 1,700.
The change in this year compared to last year has been as follows:
Several municipal corporations that are usually known for intense ward-level contests have seen big declines in candidates. Sources suggest that candidates are being prevented from filing nominations.
Maharashtra currently has 29 municipal corporations, up from 22 in the year 2000. Candidate participation rose steadily in the first three elections after 2000. The number stood at 14,930 in the first election, increased to 17,451 in the next, and remained almost the same at 17,432 in the last polls.
The current election marks a sharp break from this trend with a significant fall to 15,931 candidates. A total of 69 candidates have been elected without opposition. In response to these developments, the Maharashtra State Election Commission stepped in on Saturday. It stopped the results in wards where unopposed candidates were elected.
The commission has asked local election officials to submit detailed reports to ensure that no irregularities took place. While 22 corporations have seen a decline, Vasai-Virar and a few cities have reported a sharp rise in candidates.
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