The stage is set for a high-stakes political showdown in Nashik, as the city gears up for the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections on January 15. A remarkable feature of this electoral battle is the direct confrontation between experienced former office-holders, with 35 former corporators contesting against each other across 17 of the total 31 wards.
A Triangular Contest with Complex Alliances
The overall electoral landscape is shaping up as a largely triangular contest. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting independently, while the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have forged an alliance. However, in a twist reflecting internal complexities, candidates from these allied parties have also filed nominations against each other in certain seats. The third major front, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which is contesting unitedly, has also put up candidates in several wards, adding to the competitive fervor. In total, a significant 89 former corporators are in the fray for the 122 seats.
High-Profile Battles: Mayors vs Deputy Mayors
Several wards are witnessing nail-biting contests between former top brass of the civic body, including ex-mayors and deputy mayors. These clashes are drawing significant public attention.
In Ward 5, a high-voltage contest is underway between former mayor Ashok Murtadak, who is contesting as an independent, and former deputy mayor Gurmit Bagga. Bagga recently switched his allegiance from the Congress party to the BJP, making this a keenly watched battle of political loyalties.
Ward 1 sees former mayor Ranjana Bhansi of the BJP seeking re-election, but she faces a challenge from within her own party from Ganesh Chavan. Another former mayor, Nayana Gholap, who joined the BJP from Shiv Sena, is contesting from Ward 22. Her main opponent is Vaishali Dani from Shiv Sena (UBT), promising a tough fight.
The political drama extends to other key figures. Former deputy mayor Ajay Boraste, who is in the fray from Shiv Sena, is being challenged by Yogesh Hiray of the BJP. Meanwhile, the former chairperson of the NMC standing committee, Shivaji Gangurde, is seeking re-election from Ward 12, with Shiv Sena's Sameer Kamble pitted against him.
Multi-Cornered Fights and Party Switches
Several other wards present multi-cornered contests involving seasoned politicians. In Ward 20, former BJP group leader Sambhaji Moruskar is contesting on a BJP ticket but faces a challenge from Ambadas Pagare, who is now contesting as an independent.
Perhaps one of the most crowded contests is in Ward 16, where three former corporators are vying for a single seat. The battle here is between Kunal Wagh (BJP), Rahul Dive (Shiv Sena), and Ramesh Jadhav (Congress), making it a microcosm of the larger political tussle in the city.
With nominations filed and campaigns in full swing, the January 15 elections for the Nashik Municipal Corporation are poised to be a referendum on the performance of these former representatives and a test of new political alliances. The outcome will hinge on how voters assess these direct contests between familiar political faces in their respective wards.
