Maharashtra: Two BJP candidates from Pune, 15 from Thane elected unopposed ahead of local body polls

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], January 2 (ANI): Two Bharatiya Janata Party candidates from Pune Municipal Corporation and fifteen from Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation of Thane were elected unopposed ahead of the Maharashtra local body election, the party confirmed on Friday.
BJP candidates Manjusha Nagpure and Shrikant Jagtap were elected unopposed from Ward Number-35 of the Pune Municipal Corporation ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.
In a similar development, 15 BJP candidates were elected unopposed in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation of Thane district, the party said in a release.
The unopposed elected candidates include Ranjana Penkar - Ward 26(B), Asavari Navre - Ward 26(C), Manda Patil - Ward 27(A), Jyoti Patil - Ward 24(B), Rekha Chaudhary - Ward 18(A), Mukand alias Vishu Pednekar - Ward 26(A), Mahesh Patil - Ward 27(D), Sai Shelar - Ward 19(C), Dipesh Mhatre - Ward 23(A), Jayesh Mhatre - Ward 23(D), Harshada Bhoir - Ward 23(C), Dr. Sunita Patil - Ward 19(B), Pooja Mhatre - Ward 19(A), Ravina Mali - Ward 30(A) and Mandar Halbe - Ward 26(D).
The polling for 29 municipal corporation elections across the state, including Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, will be held on January 15, with vote counting scheduled for January 16. December 30 was the last day for filing nominations.
Earlier on Thursday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) withdrew its candidate from Ward No. 2 after facing strong internal opposition, following which nominee Pooja More stepped aside amid mounting pressure from party workers.
Objections were raised over More's past statements, including her initial reaction after the Pahalgam attack and earlier remarks critical of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Old videos and posts resurfaced on social media, leading to intense trolling and a sustained campaign by party workers against her nomination.
As internal opposition intensified, Pooja More eventually withdrew her nomination. She appeared visibly emotional as she stepped aside.
Meanwhile, on December 29, the Mahayuti had finalised its seat-sharing formula for the upcoming BMC elections. The BJP will contest 137 seats, while the Shiv Sena will field candidates in 90.
Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also announced that Shiv Sena (UBT), which came into an alliance with Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, will contest on around 140 seats in the BMC polls. (ANI)