The nomination process for the upcoming Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections kicked off on a quiet note this Tuesday, with only a single candidate stepping forward to file her papers on the inaugural day. This muted start came despite a significant public interest, evidenced by the sale of a whopping 1,763 application forms across the city's various wards.
A Solitary Nomination Amidst Widespread Interest
Poonam Mogare, a former corporator and member of the deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, emerged as the lone aspirant to submit her nomination on the opening day. Mogare filed her candidacy from Ward 3(A). Interestingly, she stated that she is "representing Shiv Sena," even though she has not yet received the party's official A and B forms, which are crucial for formal ticket allocation.
Municipal officials confirmed that nomination forms were issued for all 122 seats spanning the city's 31 wards. They also clarified a key procedural point: candidates must submit their nomination documents offline only to the respective returning officers, with no online option available.
Alliances in Flux as Administrative Machinery Gears Up
While the nomination window is now open, the political landscape remains in a state of negotiation. The two major alliances—the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)—have not yet finalized their seat-sharing arrangements for these crucial civic polls. Functionaries from both coalitions are expected to conclude the delicate task of allocating seats within the next couple of days, setting the stage for a more competitive filing process ahead of the deadline.
On the administrative front, Nashik municipal commissioner Manisha Khatri has appointed 10 returning officers and 30 assistant returning officers to oversee the entire election process. For streamlined management, one returning officer, assisted by three assistant returning officers, has been assigned to handle every cluster of three wards.
Nomination forms are being accepted at 10 designated returning officer offices located across six NMC divisional buildings. An additional office has been set up at the Divyang Bhavan at Mumbai Naka to facilitate the process.
Critical Election Timeline for Nashik Voters
The election commission has laid out a clear schedule for the Nashik civic polls. The last date for filing nominations is December 29, with submissions accepted daily between 11 am and 3 pm. The scrutiny of all nomination papers will be conducted on December 31, and the list of valid candidates will be released on the same day after verification.
The deadline for withdrawal of nominations is January 2. Following this, the final list of candidates contesting the elections will be officially declared on January 3. The city will go to the polls to elect its 122 corporators on January 15, with the counting of votes scheduled for the next day, January 16.
This electoral exercise will determine the political leadership of one of Maharashtra's most important urban centers for the next term.
