The political scenario at Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) has undergone a significant transformation with former Congress President and Mayor Jagat Bahadur Singh joining Bharatiya Janata Party. While Singh will continue as the Mayor, changes are anticipated in Mayor-in-Council. With Singh switching sides, the political scenario of the Municipal Corporation is expected to shift from being dominated by the Congress to assuming an Opposition role. Discussions have already begun within the Congress regarding new leader of Opposition. Simultaneously, BJP leader Kamlesh Agrawal will also have to relinquish his present position of leader of opposition in JMC. As local bodies are not subjected to anti defection law, there is no provision for elections in the case of an individual changing side within the local body. Consequently, Jagat Bahadur Singh is likely to be unanimously elected as the Mayor under existing majority and rules. Following Singh’s party switch, discontent is brewing within the Congress.

 

Several M-i-C members, excluding two or three, have already resigned from their positions in the Municipal Corporation. Although they will retain their Corporator status. A wave of dissatisfaction has swept through the Congress. The entry of Jagat Bahadur into the BJP is expected to bring about a reversal in the political dynamics of the Municipal Corporation. Opposition leader Kamlesh Agrawal, along with some Corporators are likely to become members M-i-C. Those who were previously considered part of the Opposition will now find themselves in the ruling party. The sudden move of Singh, who was being prepared to contest the Lok Sabha elections for Congress just two days ago, has left Congress members bewildered. Congress leaders were not expecting such a turn of events and the secretive manner in which Jagat Bahadur joined the BJP has surprised local BJP members as well.

 

The formation of the M-i-C is not going to be straightforward. The Municipal Corporation has 29 Congress Corporators, out of which ten were appointed as members of the M-i-C. However, with the BJP having 45 Corporators, selecting ten members from them will not be an easy task. The BJP has a majority in the three Assembly constituencies of the city North-Central, West and Cantt Assembly and at least eight to nine members may be chosen from these constituencies. Similarly, Panagar Assembly has more than half a dozen wards within the Municipal Corporation limits, allowing one or two members to be selected from this constituency. The formation of the M-i-C will also require consideration of several things including seniority.