Nagpur: With the June 18 legislative council bypoll in Nagpur turning into a direct contest between BJP candidate Rajiv Potdar and Congress nominee Atul Londhe, the BJP has implemented an elaborate strategy to keep its corporators together in Goa until polling day, amid concerns of potential cross-voting and opposition efforts at vote management.
BJP's Week-Long Programme
The BJP has organized a week-long programme that includes a stay at a Goa resort and training sessions, effectively isolating its elected representatives ahead of the crucial election. According to party sources, BJP corporators will depart Nagpur on June 10 via the Duronto Express for Mumbai and fly to Goa the following day. They are expected to stay in the coastal state for three days before returning to Mumbai on June 14. Sources indicated that a welcome programme is likely to be held in the presence of Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
The corporators will subsequently attend a dinner programme with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis before participating in a two-day training camp at Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini on June 15 and 16. The party leadership is also considering accommodating corporators at a resort to ensure unity in the ranks. However, the mayor, deputy mayor, and standing committee chairman have been excluded from the tour programme.
Numerical Advantage in NMC
The BJP enjoys a comfortable numerical advantage in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. In the 161-member house, the BJP has 109 corporators, while the Congress has 36. The AIMIM has six members, the Indian Union Muslim League four, Shiv Sena (UBT) two, Shiv Sena (Shinde) one, NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) one, and BSP one.
Despite this favorable arithmetic, the BJP is not taking any chances. The party explored the possibility of an unopposed election but failed to secure opposition support after Congress fielded Londhe. With the contest becoming inevitable, BJP strategists are keen to prevent any last-minute surprises.
Precautionary Measures
Party insiders said there are concerns about opposition parties trying to influence voting patterns in the days leading to the election, and ring-fencing corporators is being seen as a precautionary measure to eliminate the possibility of defections or cross-voting. Sources said corporators will be divided into zone-wise groups, with senior office-bearers assigned responsibility for each cluster. Separate accommodation arrangements are being made for male and female corporators as the party gears up for what it views as a politically significant electoral battle, despite its numerical dominance.
