Congress–BJP battle intensifies

 

 

 

 

 

Prabhag 37 in West Nagpur has emerged as one of the most politically charged wards ahead of the forthcoming Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections. Once a Congress-influenced pocket, the Prabhag has steadily tilted towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the past decade. The ward carries added political weight after Congress City President and MLA Vikas Thakre suffered defeat here in 2017. With reservation changes, multiple aspirants and shifting caste arithmetic, candidate selection has turned into a high-stakes exercise for all parties. The BJP enters the contest with organisational strength but faces internal competition, while the Congress is struggling to identify credible faces capable of challenging the ruling party’s grip. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), though electorally weaker in the past, is also exploring the possibility of fielding a strong candidate in select segments.

 

 

 

In the 2017 civic elections, the BJP secured a clean sweep in Prabhag 37, defeating the Congress decisively on all four seats. Former corporators Pramod Tabhane, Sonali Kadu, Nanda Jichkar and Dilip Dive ensured the party’s dominance, and the BJP has since strengthened its booth-level machinery in the ward. The current reservation pattern has altered equations. The seat earlier held by Pramod Tabhane is now reserved for a Scheduled Caste woman, forcing the party to look beyond established male candidates. There is also speculation over whether Dilip Dive may be fielded again, while the political future of former mayor Nanda Jichkar is being keenly watched. With several aspirants from neighbouring Prabhags also seeking entry, the BJP faces a tough internal selection process. 

 

 

The Prabhag is a geographically large and socially mixed ward comprising middle-class residential areas along with slum-dominated pockets. The Prabhag has over 11,500 Scheduled Caste voters, making them a decisive factor in the election outcome. Areas such as Subhash Nagar, Tatya Tope Nagar, Pratap Nagar, Deendayal Nagar and Telecom Nagar together shape the ward’s voting pattern. “Here, candidates are judged by how visible they are in smaller lanes, not just on main roads,” said Sanjay Deshpande, a resident of Swaroop Nagar. With reservation-driven realignments, parties are under pressure to balance caste representation with local acceptability.

 

 

Despite well-maintained gardens in areas like Trimurti Nagar and Deendayal Nagar, several civic issues persist. Internal roads in smaller localities remain in poor condition, and drainage lines frequently choke during the monsoon. “In the rainy season, waterlogging near Padole Chowk is routine. Complaints rarely bring lasting solutions,” said Meena Patil, a resident of Pratap Nagar. Stray dog attacks have also caused fear. “Children are scared to play outside because of aggressive dogs,” noted Ramesh Sonawane from Karmveer Nagar. Encroachments by shops and hotels have worsened parking and pedestrian movement. “Footpaths are completely occupied by vendors. Walking safely has become difficult,” said Aarti Kulkarni of Tatya Tope Nagar. Irregular sanitation services in interior bastis remain another sore point. With Congress and BJP locked in intense ticket negotiations and the BSP weighing its options, the Prabhag is poised for a prestige-driven civic battle.