Although the political landscape for the ensuing elections to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is yet to shape-up, a study of the Prabhag no 5 presents a interesting aspects. The unique point about this Prabhag is it encompasses areas of three assembly segments of city–the North Nagpur, the Central Nagpur and the East Nagpur. So for any political party, a dominant position in this Prabhag is a must for bigger gains later.

 

 

As one moves through the Prabhag, a fact that comes to stark notice is presence of major slum settlements that dot parts of North Nagpur and East Nagpur. Central Nagpur is quite densely populated and is dotted with major wholesale markets of the city, ensuring a bustling activity throughout the day. BJP All the Way: Post deceleration of Prabhag system, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dominated Prabhag 5, and the influence then helped the party to do much better in Assembly election, though it failed to wrest the North Nagpur segment from Congress. However in NMC election, as BJP carefully balanced the regional and caste equations, it swept all the four seats up for grabs in the Prabhag 5.

 

Durga Hattithele won from North Nagpur side localities that included Martin Nagar, Vishwas Nagar, Kushi Nagar, Sushila Layout, Nara Gaon, Kasturba Nagar, MHADA Colony, Kukreja Nagar, Amar Jyoti Nagar, HUDCO Colony, MIG Colony, Nirmal Colony, CMPDI, Nagsen Nagar, Jaripatka, Old Jaripatka, RC Graveyard, Mahavir Nagar, Dayalu Society, Jagrut Nagar, Hira Nagar. From the Central part came Pravin Bhisikar, in his third successive term, each time winning from a different ward. His dominance is near total in the area that runs through the formidable Halba vote bank that BJP has consolidated like anything.

 

His rise in the party too has been quite admirable as he was rewarded with post of Chairman of Standing Committee as BJP tried to successfully balance the delicate caste combination. The other two winners are Abhiruchi Rajgire and Sanjay Chawre, each of them bringing on table their own network in their respective areas that helped BJP tide over the pitted challenge of Congress dominance that has been on wane. Issues: The Prabhag offers and interesting study as part of it is quite affluent but a majority of the localities are still struggling with basic amenities. Though the corporators have to quite and extent managed to develop their respective areas, it was limited to laying out a good road network. However the issue of old sewage network still persists which the new set of public representative would have to dealt with. NMC has not yet implemented overhaul of the sewage network, as for the contractor laying the new line would be quite a challenging issue.

 

Lake Conservation: The Mangalwari lake bordering the Mehendibagh Colony is still in limbo. NMC sometimes back took up desilting but the lake at present looks nothing pristine to its once formidable appearance which over the years has shrinked due to rapid expansion of human settlements. Centrally the main areas encompasses Binaki Mangalwari, Anand Nagar, HUDCO Quaters, Sanjay Gandhi Nagar, Indira Mata Nagar, Bhola Nagar, Mehendibagh Colony, Jamdar Wadi, Ishwar Deshmukh Layout, Kinkheda Layout, Vrindawan Nagar, Joshipura, Jai Bhole Nagar, Kundanlal Gupta Nagar, Namdeo Nagar, Atre Nagar, Indira Nagar, Bohara Kabrastan, Panch Quarter, Panchavati Nagar, Kawarapeth, Shanti Nagar, Ramsumer Babanagar, Mudliyar Layout, Dhammdeep Nagar.