When Nagpur confronts itself

 

 

The city of Nagpur confronts itself today as it goes to municipal polls. After a long gap -- whose explanation nobody ever had -- the people will elect their ward representatives once again. The second capital of Maharashtra, thus, will have a ‘complete’ municipal corporation -- free from the bureaucratic grip with no one to listen to the troubles, trials and tribulations of the common people. From tomorrow (January 16, 2026) onwards, the city will have ward members who will be expected to address people’s problems and seek legitimate solutions to civic issues. By that token, good days will return to Nagpur -- as politically naive and ill-informed people often say (in tune with political leaders). For the city that suffered from bureaucratic anarchy for long years, the new times will bring new hopes -- at the start of New Year. In his different public interviews (taken by films good-looking film and television stars etc), Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Fadnavis had asserted that Nagpur is an innovative modern city -- and his supporters clapped. In another such interview by a cinema and television superstar, Union Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari also made similar points about Nagpur being a well-managed city.

 

But just a few days ago, ‘The Hitavada’ carried news items of how angry common people of Nagpur were and how they confronted election campaigners with hard questions that highlighted gross civic incompetence -- badly designed roads and sidewalks and intersections and bridges and fly-overs and public areas and street lighting and ... ! That picture contrasted sharply with what the honourable Chief Minister and the honourable Union Minister had to say during those publicised interviews. The common people of the city know very well that the cosmetic appearance of the city is deceptive and the civic problems have been compounded manifold by badly and irresponsibly designed public infrastructure with no commitment to public good.

 

The common people have a lot more to say about the absolutely bad civic governance the city has been suffering from for the past so many years. But time it is now for the city to elect its new municipal corporation. Of course, people have to choose only from the field available. So, they must choose the best people who they think will represent their cause the best. True, NOTA (None Of The Above) is also a choice -- which, in actual terms, makes no sense. But whatever tool we have -- of the universal franchise -- we must make the best possible choice. Then will come the big task of making the civic body prove its worth through truly good work for the city.

 

That will certainly be a tough task -- since the political system that has come to stay in India shows least commitment to public good. But then, the people have little choice. Here, the loosefooter wants to make it clear that his belief in democracy is beyond question of any politically-driven person. He has always supported the Government’s good deeds -- but has never shied away from his core duty as a journalist to raise questions about the failure of the Government or the Administration or the authority on whatever issues. As a journalist, he has only one tool -- To be able to ask questions (under constitutional safeguards) to the mightiest in the land. For the past (nearly) sixty years, he has seen the growth and development in Nagpur -- as a journalist and as a citizen. He believes, Nagpur is the best city to live in, at least in Maharashtra. Despite this, the loosefooter also knows how the city’s civic governance has not shown any marked improvement over time.

 

That is possibly so because the people in power -- political and administrative -- have developed a carefully crafted deaf ear to people’s genuine issues. In the light of this experience of decades, the loosefooter realises the importance of the moment when the city confronts itself at the time of civic elections. This is a critical moment, and the city must make the best use of it for its own long-term benefit. This is the moment when the people must demonstrate their democratic maturity -- so that they have the right choice of representatives.