BMC election 2026: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut slams Mahayuti nominees

With the BMC election 2026 just around the corner Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday launched a scathing attack over the unopposed election especially of Mahayuti nominees in municipal polls across Maharashtra The Shiv Sena UBT leader stated that even the big leaders of this country were never elected unopposedSanjay Raut said Atal Bihari Vajpayee was never elected unopposed nor were Barrister Nath Pai Vasantdada Patil Ram Manohar Lohia or even Narendra Modi However a new trend has started in Maharashtra where Sama Dana Danda Bheda persuasion money punishment and division are being used to ensure unopposed victories as cited by news agency IANSRaut also added that journalists political analysts and the public were well aware that such a high number of unopposed candidates is unprecedented He also added that this is not just in the countryrsquos history but in the history of the worldDescribing the tactics used Raut while speaking at the press conference alleged that candidates were forced to withdraw not just through the misuse of election machinery but by showering them with money Opponents were being paid five crore rupees each to step down as per IANSWhile citing the example of Kalyan the Shiv Sena UBT leader stated that the amount offered to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS city chief Manoj Gharat to withdraw was eyepoppingRegarding the situation in Jalgaon Raut alleged Bags containing five crore rupees each were sent to the houses of candidates to force them to withdraw The candidates were left stunned by the sheer amount of money Such a massive play of wealth has never been seen before in this democracyrdquoIn view of demanding an investigation on this particular matter Sanjay Raut said The election officials had clear instructions Although the deadline for withdrawal was 300 PM instructions were issued from the offices of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister to accept applications even after that time and backdate them to before 300 PM reported IANSldquoCheck the phone calls and records of everyone involved Investigate who called whom in the last 24 hours mdash which Guardian Minister which Minister or which office made the calls If this is investigated the mystery behind these unopposed withdrawals will be revealedrdquo Shiv Sena MP Sanjay RautRaut also expressed deep concern over the statersquos image saying These incidents have dragged Maharashtrarsquos prestige through the dust The state has been completely defamed If 60 people are being elected unopposed what kind of election is this What are the voters supposed to doSpeaking at the press conference on Saturday he further questioned the role of the regulatory body asking Has this question ever occurred to the Election Commission The Election Commission has become a pet cat sitting under the plates of these corrupt individualsSanjay Raut slams NCP chief Ajit PawarMeanwhile Raut also reacted to NCP chief and Deputy CM Ajit Pawarrsquos scathing attack accusing the BJP leaders from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation of reaching the pinnacle of corruptionrdquoHe further claimed they possess a monstrous hunger to enrich their families through illicit means He reminded the public of the origins of the corruption allegations against the Deputy CMRaut further emphasised ldquoWe did not level the Rs 70000 crore irrigation scam allegations against Ajit Pawar It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who made those charges during a rally in Bhopal Ironically just eight days later Ajit Pawar joined the Cabinet The BJP must now answer what happened to those allegations as per IANSWith inputs from IANS