Nagpur's Prabhag 5, a constituency encompassing some of the city's oldest and most densely packed neighbourhoods, is poised for a keen electoral contest in the upcoming civic polls. The area, with its persistent infrastructure challenges, is a critical battleground where the ruling BJP aims to defend its dominance against a resurgent Congress and other parties.
Infrastructure Challenges in Dense Localities
Nearly 80% of Prabhag 5 falls under the North Nagpur assembly constituency, while the remaining 20% is part of East Nagpur. The prabhag includes historic, thickly populated areas where executing development work is notoriously difficult. A primary concern for residents is the archaic and problematic sewerage network. In several pockets, houses were constructed directly over existing sewer lines, creating massive obstacles for laying new pipelines and carrying out essential upgrades.
The dense habitation has also repeatedly stalled road construction and repair projects. While former corporators assert that development was prioritised in recent years, locals report that civic issues worsened during the past three-and-a-half years when the municipal corporation was under an administrator's rule. Key projects like the beautification of Mangalwari Lake and the replacement of dilapidated sewer lines in multiple areas remain incomplete. Irregular garbage collection has added to the public's discontent.
Political Dynamics and Electoral History
In the 2017 civic elections, the BJP swept all four seats from this prabhag, cementing its control. The area has traditionally been a BJP fortress, with the party securing a substantial vote share in the last assembly and Lok Sabha elections, despite a significant population of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Muslims. The Congress, while having a reasonable support base, has been hampered by organisational weaknesses in previous polls.
This time, however, the Congress, Shiv Sena, and NCP have intensified efforts to breach the BJP's bastion. The political alignment of the sizable Halba community, often a decisive factor, will be crucial after nine years. The number of aspirants is high, indicating a competitive fight. From the BJP, prominent hopefuls include former corporator and standing committee chairman Pravin Bhisikar, Abhiruchi Rajgire, Sanjay Chavare, and Durga Hathithele.
Key Issues and Voter Profile
The pressing concerns for Prabhag 5's residents are clear and multifaceted:
- Dense settlements making execution of development works difficult.
- Houses built over sewer lines near Kundanlal Guptanagar drain, blocking new pipeline installation.
- Problem of contaminated water supply.
- Several road works stalled due to lack of funds.
- Incomplete beautification of Mangalwari Lake.
Prominent areas within the prabhag include Binaki Mangalwari, Anand Nagar, and Hudco Quarters. The seat reservation for the four seats is: Scheduled Caste (Woman), Scheduled Tribe, OBC (Woman), and General. The total voter strength stands at 61,700, comprising 30,370 male and 30,967 female voters.
With the administrator-led period hindering the resolution of long-pending civic issues, the upcoming election is a direct referendum on local governance. The outcome will hinge on which party can most convincingly address the entrenched infrastructure deficits and win the trust of a diverse electorate tired of delays and unfulfilled promises.
