Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant on Friday launched a sharp attack on the ruling Mahayuti alliance over the victory of 21 Municipal Corporation candidates who were elected unopposed, questioning whether democratic processes are being deliberately undermined.

Rejecting the claim that these unopposed victories reflect public support or set the tone for upcoming civic elections, Sawant said the political reality on the ground is very different. He pointed out that similar patterns were seen earlier in Nagar Panchayat and Nagar Palika elections, where several ministers, MLAs, and even their family members from the ruling side secured wins without facing a contest.

“Is this democracy actually functioning?” Sawant asked, raising serious concerns over the fairness of the electoral process. He alleged that potential candidates were prevented from filing nomination papers through intimidation and deliberate obstruction. According to him, fear tactics and the presence of “gangsters” at nomination centres ensured that challengers were kept away.

Sawant argued that such unopposed victories cannot be viewed as genuine mandates but must be examined as warning signs of shrinking democratic space. He stressed that the Election Commission and authorities must take these developments seriously, as they strike at the core of free and fair elections.