Had sweet, salty experiences contesting as Independent

Revisiting a journey defined by personal grit, bureaucratic hurdles and stand against corruption

- Sneha Deepak Visaria

Contesting the BMC 2026 elections as an Independent was a whirlwind of sweet and salty experiences. It was a journey defined by bureaucratic hurdles, personal grit and a stand against systemic corruption. Here is my story.

The bureaucratic maze

The challenges began long before the first vote was cast. Although I contested from Ward 225 (A Ward), the administrative center was located in ward E (Byculla), making daily travel a gruelling task. The nomination process felt outdated as the forms were in Marathi, offering no English alternative for basic data entry. Securing the necessary documentation was an ordeal. I had to obtain seven to eight different NOCs, ranging from property and water tax assessments to police clearances. At one point, three wards were clubbed into one office, resulting in two-hour queues just to submit a single application. Even after submission, I had to return on different days to collect physical certificates. In this digital age, it is high time the State Election Commission digitises these processes.

The countdown: From Dec 30 to Jan 3