Professor Margaret D’Costa, a candidate from the Aam Aadmi Party, was unable to file her nomination for the upcoming Mumbai civic elections, alleging that she was prevented from entering the Returning Officer’s cabin just three minutes after 5 pm on December 30, which was the official deadline for filing nominations. She claimed that the area was heavily crowded with supporters of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, making it impossible for her to access the officer’s office in time.
The Maharashtra unit of the Aam Aadmi Party has accused the Returning Officer of acting in an unfair, biased, and unlawful manner, allegedly under pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party and at the instance of Speaker Rahul Narvekar. According to the party, more than 17 candidates were stopped from submitting their nomination papers for the January 15 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections due to these actions.
AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon, in a formal complaint addressed to the State Election Commissioner, alleged that Speaker Narvekar, who is also the BJP MLA from Colaba, visited the Returning Officer’s office during the nomination process. Following his arrival, the Returning Officer allegedly refused to allow several candidates who were already present inside the premises to submit their nomination papers. Menon stated that these claims could be verified through CCTV footage and asserted that at least 17 candidates were affected by this decision.
Professor D’Costa reiterated that she was present at the nomination centre before the deadline but was blocked from entering the Returning Officer’s cabin due to severe overcrowding caused by Narvekar’s supporters. She said that despite reaching the venue on time, she was denied entry moments after the deadline elapsed, effectively preventing her from filing her nomination.
Reacting to the incident, AAP spokesperson Ruben Mascarence stated that the party would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion. He emphasized that the alleged obstruction raised serious concerns about fairness and transparency in the electoral process and could not be ignored.
Similar allegations were raised by candidates from other political parties as well. Representatives from the Republican (Gawai) party and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena also claimed that Speaker Narvekar entered the nomination filing centre with a large entourage, leading to overcrowding inside the Returning Officer’s office. They alleged that due to the congestion and confusion, several candidates were unable to submit their nomination papers. Some also claimed that police personnel and election officials on duty misled them during the process.
Vaishali Gawade from the Republican (Gawai) party stated that Narvekar was allowed to enter the nomination centre with more than 25 people accompanying him, while she was not permitted to take even her lawyer inside to ensure her paperwork was correct. She said she had been issued a token and had deposited the required fees well in advance, yet she could not reach the Returning Officer’s cabin before the 5 pm deadline. She has submitted formal representations to the State Election Commissioner, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and the Returning Officer regarding the matter.
Baban Mahadik from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, who had arrived at the nomination centre at his designated auspicious time, was also among those unable to file their nomination. He alleged that there appeared to be external pressure on both the Returning Officer and the police. He warned that such incidents posed a serious threat to democratic processes and needed thorough investigation.
Former MP and MLA Haribhau Rathod, along with 12 other candidates who were similarly affected, wrote a joint letter to the State Election Commissioner requesting that their nomination papers be accepted even after the December 30 deadline, citing the extraordinary circumstances that prevented them from filing on time.
In response to these allegations, the Maharashtra State Election Commission directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to submit a detailed report. The commission has sought clarification on claims that candidates were unable to file their nomination papers due to the presence of Speaker Narvekar’s large entourage at the nomination filing centre, indicating that the matter is now under official scrutiny.
