Nagpur has a notable trend of politicians starting their careers as corporators and rising to prominent positions, including MLAs and even Chief Ministers. Except Dr Nitin Raut, Abhijeet Wanjari and Krupal Tumane from current circle, all the rest started out as corporators. There are four MLAs in current situation who worked as Mayor also. Devendra Fadnavis, now Chief Minister of Maharashtra; Vikas Thakre, two time MLA of Congress; Pravin Datke, now MLA from Central Nagpur constituency (he was MLC also); Sandip Joshi, now MLC. The two other corporators--Krishna Khopde, four time MLA from East Nagpur, Mohan Mate, two term MLA from South Nagpur, contested corporation elections and became corporators.

 

Vikas Thakre, MLA and former Mayor, demonstrated a strong foundation in local politics. Pravin Datke is showcasing his ability to transition from local to State-level leadership. Sandip Joshi has been highlighting his experience in municipal governance and is known for his organisational skills. Dr Parinay Fuke is one such name who was elected as an independent candidate in municipal polls and earned his name in State politics later. He is known as fighter and gave a boost to BJP in Bhandara. In earlier regime of Fadnavis-led Government in Maharashtra, Fuke was made Minister of State. Adv Abhijeet Wanjari came from university politics background. He could not win corporation elections but he won from Graduate constituency which was a stronghold of BJP. These individuals have leveraged their local experience to propel their careers forward. 

 

 

Prakash Gajbhiye won corporation election twice and then was made MLC by Nationalist Congress Party. He was in Upper House for six long years. He joined NCP and remained there as a loyalist. Last year, he met with an accident and was severely injured, and treated at Mumbai where Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis helped him a lot. Surprisingly, he has taken a step back and filed nomination as Corporator. People are not happy with his decision and many expressed that he should have made way for a younger face.

 

 

Nagpur has become a stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in recent times. One of the prominent leaders from this region is Devendra Fadnavis, who has been serving as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Fadnavis, a seasoned politician, started his career as a corporator in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and went on to become the youngest Mayor of Nagpur at the age of 27 when the Mayor-in-Council system came into being. Fadnavis worked as Head of the Council. He has been representing the Nagpur South West constituency in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly since 2009. Before that, he got elected from West Nagpur constituency twice. This is his fifth term of MLA. Fadnavis became the youngest Mayor and youngest Chief Minister also.