Nanded (Maharashtra) — Forty-four candidates who contested the 2025 local body elections in Nanded district have been disqualified from contesting municipal elections for three years after failing to file their poll expenditure accounts within the statutory time, district authorities said.
Orders issued after deadline breach, collector confirms
The action was confirmed by Nanded collector Rahul Kardile, who said the disqualifications relate to contests held in 12 municipal councils and one nagar panchayat across the district. The orders were issued on July 27 and were published in the Maharashtra Government Gazette on Aug 5, officials said.
Under the law, every candidate is required to submit a detailed statement of poll expenses to the competent authority within 30 days from the date results are declared. The defaulting candidates did not comply with this statutory obligation, triggering action under Section 16 (1-D) of the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act, 1965.
Where the disqualifications occurred
Officials provided a district-wise breakdown of the disqualifications, saying the highest number came from Himayatnagar Nagar Panchayat. The distribution is:
- Himayatnagar Nagar Panchayat: 14 disqualifications
- Kinwat Municipal Council: 7 disqualifications
- Umri and Dharmabad: 6 each
- Kandhar Municipal Council: 5 disqualifications
- Mukhed: 3 disqualifications
- Bhokar: 2 disqualifications
- Loha: 1 disqualification
| Local Body | Number of Disqualified Candidates |
|---|---|
| Himayatnagar (Nagar Panchayat) | 14 |
| Kinwat Municipal Council | 7 |
| Umri | 6 |
| Dharmabad | 6 |
| Kandhar Municipal Council | 5 |
| Mukhed | 3 |
| Bhokar | 2 |
| Loha | 1 |
| Total | 44 |
Statutory purpose and officials' explanation
Officials emphasised that submission of election expenditure accounts is a statutory measure intended to ensure transparency and to enable monitoring of compliance with spending norms. They stated the disqualification is a consequence of non-compliance and not a reflection on the electoral victory or on the validity of the elections themselves.
"The disqualification stems solely from failure to submit poll expenditure accounts," officials said.
Electoral rules require candidates to prepare and file a detailed account of campaign expenses so authorities can verify spending limits and ensure accountability. Failure to meet this requirement invokes the disqualification clause in the municipal law cited by authorities.
The decision affects the future eligibility of the 44 individuals to stand as municipal members in the district for the next three years. It also serves as a reminder to aspirants and political parties in Nanded and surrounding talukas to adhere to post-poll procedural obligations.
Local civic activists and some residents in the affected towns said such enforcement of rules could improve transparency in municipal politics. Others noted that lack of awareness about procedural timelines among first-time contestants may have contributed to the lapses, underscoring a need for better candidate education and administrative outreach.
District election and municipal officials have not indicated whether the disqualified candidates may seek any remedial legal remedy; the statutory provision prescribes the period of ineligibility once non-compliance is established and notified, officials added.
For Nanded's municipal landscape — from Himayatnagar's nagar panchayat to Kinwat and Mukhed councils — the action could reshape candidate lists in any bypolls or future contests during the three-year bar, local political watchers said.
