Maharashtra municipal corporation elections: Jalgaon Shiv Sena candidate Lalit Kolhe, who contested from jail, wins

Kolhe, who was lodged in Jalgaon jail and later transferred to Nashik jail, had sought permission from the magistrate court to complete the process of filing his nomination for the councillor elections from jail.

#WATCH | Maharashtra civic body elections | Jalgaon: Emotional scenes in Jalgaon as Sarita Kolhe shares a hug with Mahayuti candidate Piyush Lalit Kolhe and breaks down.

Three members of the family – Lalit Kolhe, Sindhutai Kolhe and Piyush Lalit Kolhe won the election. Lalit… pic.twitter.com/8gsURFbQPx

— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2026

Kolhe’s wife, Sarita, who is also a member of the Shiv Sena, told reporters after the result announcement that the win showed they had the people’s support. “He is in jail facing disgusting allegations, but the voters have broken through the shackles to show their love and loyalty towards him and our two family members who also got elected,” she said.

Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a person convicted and sentenced to a jail term of two years or more cannot contest elections, which means others, including under-trials, can contest

elections from jail. Previously, persons have been elected as MLAs and MPs while in jail.

Kolhe filed for bail in December 2025, claiming that the case was filed against him out of political vendetta and that there was no evidence of any illegal activity on his part. The police opposed his bail plea, stating that there is proof of his receiving rent amount from the other accused and that there is no license or permit to operate the call centre.

“At present, there is nothing on record that the Call Centre has obtained any license for running it. Prima facie, there is evidence of making contact with foreigners and collecting their bank details. Further, statements of witnesses on record show that the accused-applicant is also having contacts with the co-accused, who played a role in running the Call Centre. The offence, as alleged by the prosecution, is serious in nature,” the additional sessions judge in Jalgaon had said on December 24, 2025, while rejecting his bail plea.

Kolhe, who was earlier with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena led by Raj Thackeray, was a councillor and was elected mayor in 2017.