Mumbai, Dec 22 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) has accused the BJP-led Mahayuti of securing victories in the elections for nagar parishad and nagar panchayat in Maharashtra through financial and physical coercion.

In its publication, 'Saamana', the party remarked that if such wins are attainable through wealth, then the dignity of Maharashtra has been tarnished. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Maharashtra seems to be crawling under the weight of money. This scenario poses a grave risk to the nation.

The editorial criticized the State Election Commission (SEC) for its alleged lack of action, describing it as being in a state of 'slumber' while incidents of abduction, intimidation, and blatant cash distribution occurred across the state.

According to the editorial, the BJP has established a monopoly on winning elections through unethical means. It claimed that since the British era, the BJP and its allies have exploited the country to the greatest extent, using illegally obtained money to secure electoral victories. Moreover, it alleged that substantial amounts of 'drug money' were also utilized in these elections, raising concerns about the integrity of our democratic process and the authenticity of the 'Voter King'.

Recent data from the SEC reveals that the BJP has emerged as the dominant party, winning over 100 municipal president positions. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP obtained more than 40 seats each. In contrast, the combined opposition, which includes Congress, Sharad Pawar’s NCP(SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT), secured around 60 seats. This outcome reflects the trend seen in the recent Assembly elections where the Mahayuti achieved a similar sweeping victory, as per the editorial.

The Thackeray faction has termed these elections a 'contest of financial influence', alleging that in various municipal regions, the 'market rate' for individual votes ranged from Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000. In more competitive areas, it is said that the BJP escalated the price to between Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000 per vote, resulting in discord within the ruling coalition.

An incident was reported in Sindhudurg, where a public quarrel erupted between Shinde-faction MLA Nilesh Rane and BJP State President Ravindra Chavan over the allocation of resources.

“Reports of electoral fraud, coercion, and voter intimidation have emerged from several districts. In Dharmabad (Nanded), allegations surfaced that BJP officials detained approximately 1,500 voters, including women, in a marriage hall to compel them to accept bribes ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000. Those who refused faced threats. In Ambernath, police investigations were initiated regarding claims of fraudulent voting involving over 200 women brought in from nearby regions. In Panvel, issues with voter registrations were noted, including an instance where 268 voters were allegedly registered under the same father's name,” the editorial stated.

The Thackeray faction has referenced the local body elections in the neighboring state of Telangana, where the SEC opted for ballot papers instead of EVMs, resulting in a significant defeat for the BJP.

“In Telangana’s local body elections, Congress marked a notable resurgence with a substantial victory. Likewise, in Punjab’s local body elections, AAP outperformed both the BJP and Congress. In these states, despite the BJP's heavy financial maneuvering, voters remained unswayed,” it noted.

The editorial questioned the integrity of the electoral process in Maharashtra and highlighted that as the state approaches its next significant electoral showdown—the BMC elections in January 2026—concerns regarding electoral transparency and the influence of wealth in Maharashtra's political landscape will only grow.