Political activity has surged across Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) offices following the official announcement of the civic election schedule by the State Election Commission (SEC). The headquarters and all ten zonal offices are witnessing a significant influx of political aspirants from various parties, all aiming to kickstart the process of obtaining the mandatory No Due Certificate (NDC).
Centralized Process Triggers Headquarters Rush
While aspirants are approaching zonal offices, civic officials have clarified that the final issuance of the crucial certificate will be handled exclusively from the NMC headquarters. This has effectively turned the headquarters into the central hub for all pre-election documentation activity. On the first significant day of activity, Thursday alone saw 21 aspirants collect the prescribed application proforma for the NDC.
This rush has begun even before the formal nomination window opens on December 23. Officials anticipate a sharp rise in footfall at the headquarters as political parties finalize their candidate lists in the coming days. The city has been under bureaucratic administration since the general body was dissolved in March 2022, with the last election held back in February 2017. The December 15 announcement ended nearly four years of uncertainty, triggering intense preparatory work among former corporators, party workers, and first-time hopefuls.
One-Window System to Manage Surge and Recover Dues
To efficiently manage the expected surge of applicants, the NMC has established a large, dedicated office with a one-window system at its headquarters. Executive Engineer Ajay Pazare has been deputed as the in-charge of this facility. This streamlined process is not only facilitating applicants but is also aiding the civic body in recovering pending dues.
Under the system, every aspirant must submit a detailed application declaring all properties they own within city limits and providing associated details like water connection numbers. These applications are then verified against computerized records at a dedicated counter. If any pending civic dues—such as property tax, water charges, or other levies—are found, the applicant must clear them immediately for the process to continue. This mechanism ensures the corporation recovers outstanding funds before issuing the clearance certificate.
A Crucial Filter and Tight Election Calendar
The No Due Certificate acts as a critical filter during the nomination scrutiny process. Historical data from previous elections shows that several nominations were rejected due to pending dues or incomplete clearances. This precedent has made current aspirants particularly cautious about securing a valid NDC well in advance.
Political parties are also monitoring the process closely, as the rejection of a candidate's nomination over technicalities like dues can disrupt carefully laid ward-level electoral strategies. Aspirants are now racing against a tight election calendar to complete all documentation. The key dates are:
- Nomination acceptance period: Until December 30
- Scrutiny of nominations: December 31
- Withdrawal of candidacy: Until January 2
- Allotment of symbols: January 3
- Date of polling: January 15, 2026
- Counting of votes: January 16, 2026
With the nomination process set to begin imminently, the NMC headquarters is poised to remain the epicenter of Nagpur's political activity for the crucial weeks ahead.
