Ramtek Municipal Council heads for three-way battle; political prestige of big leaders at stake

 

 

 

The Ramtek Municipal Council election, to be held on December 2, has turned into a clear three-way contest for the President’s post, even though five candidates are standing. Two independents are in the race, but the main fight is between the Congress, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and the Bharatiya Janata Party. The seat is reserved for the OBC category, with candidates Ramesh Karamore from Congress, Bikendra Mahajan from Shiv Sena (Shinde), Jyoti Kollapera from BJP, and independents Damodar Dhopte and Akash Dhoble contesting for the post. All of them are conducting door-to-door campaigns from morning to evening. This contest carries some history. Karamore and Mahajan faced each other in 2017 as well.

 

 

That year, BJP’s Dileep Deshmukh won in a four-way fight, with Karamore finishing second, Congress candidate P T Raghuvanshi third and Mahajan fourth. Today, there are only five candidates, making the competition more direct. Some voters are criticising Karamore for changing parties often, moving from Shiv Sena to the Prahar Janshakti Party and now to the Congress. Still, his strong public presence and Congress support give him an advantage. Mahajan is seen as a loyal Shiv Sena worker, though some feel his strict nature may put off a few voters. His main strength is that he continued working for people even after losing the last election. Minister of State Adv Ashish Jaiswal is campaigning hard for him. BJP’s Kollapera is known to be friendly and is backed strongly by former MLA D Mallikarjun Reddy. Critics argue she is not originally from Ramtek, and she also faces anti-incumbency due to BJP’s term in the council from 2017 to 2022. Voters complain about water supply issues, poor development and unfinished works despite promises to develop Ramtek like Shegaon or Shirdi.

 

Many believe the BJP did not deliver on its promises. Even so, BJP’s strong organisation, booth management and the involvement of Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule make Kollapera a strong contender. For many senior leaders, this election is also a matter of prestige. The result matters to Bawankule, Jaiswal, MP Shyamkumar Barve, MLC Krupal Tumane and former ministers Sunil Kedar, Rajendra Mulak and D Mallikarjun Reddy. A total of 71 candidates are standing for councillor seats: 19 from Congress, 20 from the Shiv Sena (Shinde), 20 from the BJP, two from the NCP (Ajit Pawar), three from the NCP (Sharadchhandra Pawar), two from the CPI(M) and five independents. Congress candidate Anita Tetwar was disqualified in Ward 6A for not attaching her caste certificate, leaving that ward to a straight contest between the BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde). With personal rivalries, party pressure and memories of the 2017 election, Ramtek is witnessing a tight three-way battle. The final outcome will depend on voter turnout, last-minute campaigning and how people judge past performance against present promises.