Mumbai: The Mahayuti alliance has suffered a significant political setback ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, losing two seats even before polling could take place. In a major development during the scrutiny of nomination papers, candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction were disqualified in two Mumbai wards, effectively pushing the alliance out of the contest in those areas.
The last date for filing nominations for the BMC elections was yesterday, following which the official scrutiny process began today. During this verification, it emerged that Mahayuti candidates in Ward No. 211 and Ward No. 212 failed to clear mandatory procedural requirements, leading to the rejection of their nomination papers.
In Ward No. 211, the seat was allotted to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena under the Mahayuti seat-sharing arrangement. However, the Shiv Sena candidate’s nomination was rejected due to incomplete documentation. As the required papers were not submitted as per election norms, the Returning Officer refused to accept the nomination, leaving the alliance without a candidate in the ward.
A similar situation unfolded in Ward No. 212, where BJP candidate Mandakini Khamkar faced disqualification. According to official information, although she received the mandatory AB Form, she reached the nomination office 15 minutes after the stipulated deadline to submit her papers. Due to this delay, election officials rejected her nomination, strictly adhering to the election rules.
With both BJP and Shinde Sena candidates out of the race in Wards 211 and 212, the Mahayuti alliance now stands eliminated from direct electoral competition in these two constituencies even before voting day. Political observers see this as a major embarrassment for the ruling alliance, especially in a high-stakes civic election like the BMC polls.
Meanwhile, Ward No. 212 has gained additional attention due to the presence of Shravani Haldankar, the candidate backed by the Thackeray brothers’ alliance from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). She faces competition from candidates of the Akhil Bharatiya Sena, Congress, and other parties. However, given the consolidated support of the Thackeray camp in the area, Haldankar is being viewed as a strong frontrunner. Political circles suggest that this ward could help MNS open its account in the BMC.
