Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stamped its authority in the election to Zonal Chairpersons of Nagpur Municipal Corporation as it won nine out of ten seats and that too unopposed. Third largest party in NMC House, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) managed to retain the Asinagar Zone Chairperson post but it deepened the fault lines within the party. For principal Opposition party, Congress the election in civic arena again showcased its ignominy as vertical-horizontal and whatever one can describe the split in the party due to groupism was again exposed. District Collector Ravindra Thakare presided over the election process held at Standing Committee auditorium at civic headquarters on Tuesday. Since the election are mere formality as new Chairperson would get not more than three to four working months as thereafter elections to one seat of MLC from Local Self Government bodies would limit their powers as code of conduct would set in and thereafter civic election are due.

 

Hence not many senior corporators from BJP was interest in election and the party again reposed faith in their woman leaders. From the nine posts bagged by BJP only at Dharampeth Zone a male candidate was in fray form ruling party. Asinagar Zone: All eyes were on Asinagar and Mangalwari Zone where contest was expected as at other eight Zones Congress Party did not even thought of putting even a semblance of fight though it is dreaming of capturing power in next year civic elections. Even otherwise in eight Zones the fate was already clear when nomination closed on Monday. At Mangalwari Zone also the lone Congress candidate in fray threw in the towel leaving road clear for BJP nominee to romp home to victory unopposed. Congress's candidate Sakshi Raut withdrew her nomination within the stipulated time given by the presiding officer.

 

Therefore, BJP's Pramila Pritam was elected unopposed as the Chairperson of Mangalwari zone. As Asinagar, BSP's candidate Vandana Chandekar won in a straight won the contest in Asinagar Zone. Congress remained neutral after Mohammed Jamal withdrew from the fray but not before sending signals of differences with party leadership. Three candidates had filed nominations for the post of Chairperson including Bhagyashree Kantode, Corporator of Ward 3 from BJP, Mohammed Jamal, Corporator of Ward 7 besides Chandekar from Ward no. 6. BJP's Bhagyashree Kantode got three votes while BSP's Vandana Chandekar got a total of six votes. In particular, Congress candidates Dinesh Yadav and Parasram Manwatkar, along with independent candidate Mohammed Jamal, who withdrew their nominations, took a neutral stance. Congress corporator Sandeep Sahare, Manoj Sangole and corporator Bhavana Lonare were absent. 'Mayor felicitates newly elected Chairpersons' Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari congratulated all those elected as Zone Chairpersons. He felicitated Pallavi Shamkule, Sunil Hiranwar, Kalpana Kumbhalkar, Vandana Bhagat, Snehal Bihare, Shraddha Pathak, Abhiruchi Rajgire, Manisha Atkare and Pramila Mathrani. MLC Praveen Datke, Deputy Mayor Manisha Dhawade, Standing Committee Chairman Vijay Zalke, ruling party leader Sandeep Jadhav, Transport Committee Chairperson Narendra Borkar, NIT's Trustee Bhushan Shingne, Pratod Divya Dhurde, Ruling Party Deputy Leader Varsha Thakre, Health Committee Chairperson Virendra Kukreja, Taxation and Tax Collection Committee Chairperson Mahendra Dhanvijay, Fire Special Committee Chairperson Adv. Sanjay Balpande, Additional Commissioner Ram Joshi and Secretary, NMC, Dr Ranjana Lade assisted the Returning Officers. 

 

Will retain power in 2022 civic elections: Sandeep Jadhav The one sided win of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates in nine out of ten zones zone in election of Chairperson is the start and in 2022 civic election the party will again return to power, said Sandip Jadhav, Ruling Party Leader. Under the leadership of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari, City President MLC Praveen Datke, all the newly elected zone Chairpersons of the party will do a great job. Speaking further, the ruling party leader said that the Congress, which claims to bring 100 per cent power in the NMC did not field its candidates in any of the eight zones and on the contrary conspired to create a rift in the BSP by supporting a rebel BSP candidate in the Asinagar zone. BJP has proved its inclusiveness by appointing its ally Vandana Bhagat of the Bahujan Republican Ekta Manch as the Chairperson of the Dhantoli zone.