The race for Nagpur's civic body elections has found its most vocal battleground not on the streets, but on social media platforms. The arena has become a loudspeaker for protest, as several aspirants denied tickets — many of them long-time party workers — have taken online to accuse senior leaders of favouritism and "dynastic politics," alleging that years of grassroots loyalty have been ignored.
Voices of Discontent: From Loyalty to Rebellion
One of the strongest reactions came from BJP worker Rajesh Hingankar from Khamla. He publicly questioned the ticket distribution process for the prabhag 36(A) seat. Hingankar, who claims to have worked for the party since 1991, asserted that committed workers who strengthened the organisation over decades were sidelined in favour of those perceived to be closer to the leadership. His posts quickly went viral, triggering a wave of similar complaints from other disappointed hopefuls.
Among them was Asavari Atul Kothiwan, who also used social media to voice her deep frustration. She wrote that she devoted 25 years to party work and hoped to contest in memory of her late father, who wished to see her in public office. Feeling repeatedly overlooked, she announced her decision to contest as an independent candidate from prabhag 35. Kothiwan stated she wanted to fight for the dignity of ordinary workers who "stand with the party in every situation." Her emotional appeal, inviting supporters to accompany her during nomination filing, drew widespread sympathy online.
A Pattern of Grievance and Independent Challenges
The discontent is not limited to first-time aspirants. Reports indicate that even a former mayor of Nagpur, who resides in central Nagpur, shifted to her maternal home after her husband rebelled against the saffron party. The couple had sought tickets, but the party's denial prompted her husband to file his nomination as an Independent candidate from the Gandhibagh zone.
Across several zones, a common narrative emerged from workers. They lamented campaigning through heat and rain, mobilising voters in every election, and defending the party during crises, only to find themselves excluded when the final candidate list is announced. Some local leaders privately noted that the secrecy surrounding the ticket-selection process, intended to prevent dissent, instead appeared to intensify anger. This frustration found a rapid and amplifying outlet on social media platforms.
Party Defence and the Threat to Unity
In defence of the candidate selection process, senior party functionaries stated that choices are guided by "winnability, social balance, and organisational requirements." They urged all workers to prioritise the party's collective interest above individual ambitions.
However, insiders warn that the growing social media-driven discontent poses a real threat. The online talk of protests and the decisions by several denied aspirants to contest as Independents could fracture party unity at a crucial stage of the civic poll campaign. This dynamic risks widening the existing gap between leadership decisions and the expectations of the party's ground-level workers, who form the backbone of any election machinery.
