BMC polls: The race for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken a dramatic turn following the official scrutiny of nomination papers. Election officials confirmed that numerous candidates from major political parties, including the Congress, BJP, AAP, and NCP (SP) have had their applications rejected due to technical errors, missing documents, and the failure to submit mandatory certificates, according to PTI.
Out of the 2,516 nomination papers filed by the December 30 deadline, a significant portion failed to pass due to major errors. The rush of last-minute filings, spurred by delayed seat-sharing pacts and the late issuance of ‘A’ and ‘B’ forms, left many candidates struggling to complete their paperwork in time.
Documentation Errors and Missing Certificates
The primary grounds for disqualification included the non-submission of caste validity certificates and incomplete details in the nomination forms. In Ward 226, both Congress candidate Manoj Kanojiya and AAP’s Navnath Lalge saw their candidatures cancelled specifically for failing to provide caste documentation. Similarly, the BJP suffered setbacks in Wards 211 and 212, where nominations were tossed out due to various deficiencies.
“Officials said candidates whose nominations were rejected would not be able to contest the elections. They added that the final electoral picture would become clearer after the completion of all statutory procedures related to the scrutiny process,” according to PTI.
The impact was also felt by the NCP (SP) in Ward 109, where their candidate Bharat Danani was disqualified. Even the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) lost a candidate in the F-South ward after a clerical error showed a proposer’s name appearing twice on the same form.
Independent Candidates Face Maximum Rejections
While established parties were hit, the highest volume of rejections affected independent hopefuls. In Ward 109 alone, six independent applications were dismissed, while all 12 rejections in the G-South wards (Wards 193 to 199) belonged to independents. Similar patterns were observed across the T division and L ward.
As the city prepares for the January 15 polls, the focus now shifts to the withdrawal phase. With 227 electoral wards up for grabs and over 1.03 crore eligible voters, the stakes are incredibly high. The current landscape is a stark contrast to 2017, with the Shiv Sena now split and 46 of its former 84 winners aligned with Eknath Shinde’s faction.\
“Officials said delays in finalising candidatures, last-minute documentation, non-submission of caste validity certificates and incomplete details were among the reasons behind the rejections,” according to PTI.
The final list of candidates will be officially published on January 3, following the January 2 deadline for the withdrawal of nominations. As the scrutiny concludes, the remaining contenders face a high-stakes battle for control of India’s wealthiest civic body.