Nagpur Mayor Election: BJP Leadership Withholds Candidate Names Amid Intense Lobbying
The Bharatiya Janata Party's selection process for Nagpur's mayor has entered a phase of heightened suspense, with senior leadership deliberately keeping candidate names confidential despite concluding crucial deliberations. The uncertainty persists even after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari presided over the BJP Nagpur city core committee meeting on Friday evening.
Deliberations Concluded But Announcement Deferred
Addressing media representatives after the meeting, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that extensive discussions regarding the mayoral election had taken place and potential candidates had been evaluated. "We discussed the election of mayor and decided the names of candidates. The final decision will be taken tomorrow or the day after," Fadnavis stated, indicating that the party leadership requires additional time to reach a conclusive verdict.
Fadnavis elaborated that complex local political dynamics and what party insiders term 'route pressure' from various constituencies would significantly influence the ultimate selection. "The city BJP president, state ministers and Union leadership will take the final call accordingly," he added, underscoring that multiple tiers of party hierarchy would scrutinize the options before formalizing the choice.
Intense Regional Lobbying and Multiple Contenders
Internal sources reveal that the mayoral position, which is reserved for a woman corporator from the general category, has sparked vigorous lobbying within BJP ranks. East Nagpur, having contributed the highest number of corporators to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, is aggressively advocating for its claim to the prestigious post. MLA Krishna Khopde is reportedly spearheading efforts to secure the position for his constituency.
The list of prospective candidates includes:
- From East Nagpur: Manisha Atkare and Santosh Laddha
- From South Nagpur: Neeta Thakre and Divya Dhurde
- From South-West Nagpur: Vishakha Mohod, Shivani Dani, and Ashwini Jichkar
With numerous claimants and senior leaders endorsing different aspirants, internal discussions have revived memories of the previous NMC term when the mayor's position was shared between Sandip Joshi and Dayashankar Tiwari, each serving approximately two and a half years. BJP insiders suggest that a similar rotational arrangement is again under active consideration to maintain regional balance and organizational harmony.
Procedural Complexities and Timeline
Administrative delays have introduced additional complications to the selection process. Despite securing a decisive mandate in the recent elections, the BJP has yet to complete group registration within the NMC. This procedural step can only be accomplished after appointing a group leader—a decision that remains pending. Consequently, the formal announcement of mayor, deputy mayor, and other crucial civic positions has been postponed.
Sources indicate that the BJP is likely to register the party and its 102 corporators with the divisional commissioner's office on February 2. All critical decisions, including group registration, finalization of mayoral and deputy mayoral candidates, and submission of nomination papers, are anticipated to occur on the same day.
Election Schedule and Historical Context
The mayoral election is scheduled for February 6 at Suresh Bhat Auditorium. At least two women corporators are expected to file nominations, though one may withdraw before polling, ensuring suspense persists until voting day. This election will determine Nagpur's 55th mayor.
Friday's core committee meeting witnessed participation from BJP city president and former mayor Dayashankar Tiwari, along with MLA Pravin Datke, and was conducted at Nitin Gadkari's residence. The NMC elections were held on January 15 following the dissolution of the previous general body on March 4, 2022. The BJP retained control of the civic body for a fourth consecutive term, securing 102 of the 151 seats, though its tally decreased by six compared to the previous house.
With the party firmly in command, political observers and citizens alike are now focused on February 2 or February 6 to discover who will emerge as Nagpur's next first citizen.
