BJP and Shiv Sena Announce Co-opted Members for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation
In a significant political development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has named five co-opted members to the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC), including Harshvardhan Karad, the son of former Union minister of state for finance Bhagwat Karad. The announcement was made on Monday, marking a strategic move to fill positions based on the party's numerical strength in the civic body.
BJP's Co-opted Members and Selection Process
The BJP's other co-opted members are Chhaya Khajekar, Gokul Malke, Vijaysingh Zala, and Amruta Palodkar. According to party officials, the selection was made from a pool of 147 local functionaries who applied for the five posts, reflecting intense competition. Many of these aspirants had either been denied party tickets for the municipal elections or had lost in the polls.
BJP city president Kishor Shitole emphasized that priority was given to long-serving party workers. "Local netas who have worked for the party for many years have been given the opportunity to become co-opted members. We hope they use it for the larger public good," he stated, adding that defeated candidates were excluded during the screening process to ensure fairness and reward loyalty.
Shiv Sena's Selection Sparks Protests
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena named Shubham Kale as its co-opted member in the CSMC, a decision that ignited protests by a group of party aspirants at Kranti Chowk. The protesters leveled allegations against party functionary and deputy mayor Rajendra Janjal over the selection process, claiming bias and lack of transparency. Janjal did not respond to the charges until late in the evening, leaving tensions unresolved.
In a separate move, Shiv Sena (UBT) announced Pradeep Shinde as its co-opted member, further highlighting the factional dynamics within the party. This appointment adds to the political landscape of the municipal corporation, where both Shiv Sena factions now have one co-opted member each.
Background on Harshvardhan Karad's Entry
Sources reveal that Harshvardhan Karad was keen to contest the municipal elections, but BJP's policy against fielding relatives of established politicians prevented his candidature. With his father's Rajya Sabha term having ended recently, he reportedly pursued entry into the civic body through co-option as an alternative pathway to political involvement. This move underscores the challenges and opportunities within party structures for aspiring politicians.
Composition of the Municipal Corporation
In the 115-member CSMC, the BJP holds 57 elected corporators, which entitles it to five co-opted members under the rules. Both factions of Shiv Sena have one co-opted member each, while AIMIM has already named its three co-opted members to the municipal corporation. This distribution reflects the current political balance and sets the stage for future governance and decision-making in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The appointments are expected to influence local policies and public service initiatives, with all parties aiming to leverage these positions for community benefit and political influence.
