The final day for filing nominations for Nagpur's civic body elections descended into high drama on Wednesday, with public anger over ticket distribution boiling over into street protests, vandalism, and a spate of resignations and rebellions across major political parties.
NCP Office Vandalised Over "Cash for Forms" Allegations
The most dramatic incident unfolded at the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) office in Ganeshpeth. Avinash Pardikar, an aspirant denied a party ticket, allegedly vandalised the office premises. He accused local leaders of "selling AB forms for cash" and sidelining grassroots workers who had toiled for the party. Police and party functionaries had to intervene to control the volatile situation.
BJP Grapples With Senior Leaders Turning Rebels
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) camp was not immune to the turmoil. Senior leader and six-time corporator Sunil Agrawal filed his nomination as an Independent after being denied a ticket, exposing significant cracks within the party's city unit. Agrawal will contest from Prabhag 14D, where the BJP chose to field sitting corporator Pragati Patil, a former NCP leader who joined the BJP ahead of the 2017 polls.
The decision to replace a loyalist with a relatively new entrant fueled resentment. The office of city BJP president Dayashankar Tiwari was reportedly flooded with resignations from workers upset over ticket denials or the exclusion of senior mentors from candidate lists.
Adding to the BJP's troubles, two-time corporator Harish Dikondwar—initially elected as an independent and later inducted into the BJP—also filed his papers as an Independent from Prabhag 27-D. His move sets up a potential triangular contest and underscores the internal rebellion.
Congress Faces Defections and Independent Runs
Discontent echoed in the Congress ranks as well. Purshottam Hazare entered the fray as an Independent after being refused an AB form. In another blow, former Congress corporator Nitin Sathaone switched sides and filed his nomination from Prabhag 1 on an NCP (Ajit) ticket.
As the 3 pm deadline approached, aspirants made a frantic last-minute dash to nomination centres. Officials struggled to manage the rush amid flaring tempers and jostling supporters eager to submit papers before the gates shut.
This frenetic final day has left major parties grappling with intense dissidence, a growing list of independent candidates, and shifting loyalties. These factors are poised to splinter traditional vote banks and complicate the post-poll arithmetic when ballots are counted.
