A significant political realignment is reshaping the electoral landscape in Nagpur just ahead of the crucial civic body polls. The Congress party has been jolted by the defection of a prominent local leader to a rival camp, highlighting deepening fissures within its city unit.
Key Corporator Switches Sides to NCP
Manoj Sangole, a five-time corporator known for his strong organisational skills and influence, has officially crossed over to the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). His move is a substantial gain for the NCP, which has historically struggled to establish a strong urban footprint in Nagpur. Sangole is scheduled to file his nomination papers on Tuesday, along with three other aspirants, including two women candidates.
Congress insiders acknowledge that the rift with Sangole has been brewing since the last assembly elections. At that time, he contested against sitting North Nagpur MLA and Congress leader Nitin Raut on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket. With reconciliation efforts failing, his exit was anticipated, but its timing just before the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections has caused considerable anxiety within the Congress ranks.
BJP Gains as Congress Exodus Continues
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is simultaneously capitalising on the internal turmoil within the Congress. In a separate development on Monday, former Congress corporator Neha Nikose and her husband Rakesh Nikose, who served as a corporator in the 2012 House, joined the BJP. This adds to a growing list of defections weakening the Congress's position.
The party faced another setback when former corporator Kamlesh Chaudhary, who was denied a ticket due to alleged anti-party activities during the last assembly polls, filed his nomination as an independent candidate. His entry threatens to split the vote in key wards, potentially harming Congress prospects.
The exodus is not limited to these recent cases. Former Congress corporator Darshani Dhawad, senior leader Manoj Sable, and his wife Harshala have already shifted allegiance to the BJP. This trend poses a serious threat to the Congress's tally, which stood at 29 corporators in the 2017 general body. Earlier, former leader of the Opposition and four-time corporator Tanaji Wanve also quit the party following a bitter dispute with city leaders, underscoring the widening cracks within the local unit.
A Battle to Hold the Flock Together
With rival parties aggressively poaching disgruntled members and independent candidates entering the fray, the Congress now faces an uphill battle to maintain cohesion within its ranks. As the nomination process gains momentum, the electoral contest for Nagpur's civic body is increasingly being defined by defections, strategic calculations, and shifting political loyalties, even before the official campaign season reaches its peak.
The series of departures from the Congress camp indicates significant organisational challenges and internal discord. The party's ability to stem the tide and present a united front will be critically tested in the upcoming polls, where every seat and vote will count in determining control of the municipal corporation.
