India, Jan. 4 -- Opposition parties came down heavily on the ruling parties, mainly the BJP and Shiv Sena, over the unprecedented number of candidates whose nomination is unopposed for the upcoming municipal corporation elections.

As many as 68 candidates from the three ruling parties could be elected unopposed as rival candidates in their electoral wards backed out at the last minute. The State Election Commission (SEC) has instructed returning officers not to declare these candidates as "elected unopposed", until an investigation is conducted into these wards. (Added the SEC bit from today's story)

"How come the candidates of only ruling parties are unopposed? This is politics of money and coercion," alleged Congress leader Satej Pati...