BJP's Dheeraj Suryavanshi Secures Unopposed Victory as Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Mayor
In a significant political development in Maharashtra, Dheeraj Suryavanshi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was elected unopposed as the mayor of the Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Municipal Corporation on Tuesday. The election process remained a mere formality as the opposition Congress and NCP(SP) alliance chose not to file any nominations for the key positions.
Deputy Mayor Also Elected Without Contest
Accompanying this victory, NCP's Gajanan Magdum was similarly elected unopposed as the deputy mayor of the corporation. The special meeting, chaired by zilla parishad chief executive officer Vishal Narwade, saw only one application filed for each post, leading to their uncontested election.
Background of the Political Alliance
The unopposed elections follow the municipal corporation elections held in January this year, where the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 39 seats. Congress secured 18 seats, NCP won 16, Shiv Sena garnered 2, and NCP(SP) managed 3 seats. To consolidate power, the BJP and NCP formed an alliance, which paved the way for this smooth electoral outcome.
Ceremonial Felicitations and Key Attendees
After the election announcement, the new mayor and deputy mayor were felicitated by Vishal Narwade and commissioner Satyam Gandhi. The event at the Sangli Municipal Corporation office was attended by prominent figures including former MP Sanjay Patil, former MLA Dinkar Patil, BJP state vice-president Shekhar Inamdar, NCP district president Nishikant Patil, city president Padmakar Jagdale, former chairman of the standing committee Suresh Awati, and Congress city district president Rajesh Naik.
Mayor's Vision for Development
Speaking after assuming charge, Mayor Dheeraj Suryavanshi outlined his priorities, emphasizing a commitment to comprehensive and balanced development across Sangli, Miraj, and Kupwad. "We will work in coordination with the administration to address daily citizen issues, including civic amenities, sanitation, water supply, roads, and health services," he stated. He further pledged to make the municipal corporation's administration more transparent, dynamic, and people-oriented.
Upcoming General Body Meeting
The first general body meeting of the KMC is scheduled for February 20. Key agenda items include:
- Appointment of eight co-opted corporators
- Selection of 37 members for the standing committee, transport, and women and child welfare departments
- Discussion on six other subjects
This meeting marks the next step in the corporation's administrative setup, following the recent electoral formalities.
