The upcoming elections for the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) have transformed into a significant arena for political dynasties, with more than 25 relatives of established politicians entering the fray. The polls, scheduled for January 15, will decide representatives for 122 seats across 31 wards in the city. A striking feature is that around 20% of these seats are being contested by the kin of various political functionaries, highlighting a deep-rooted culture of legacy politics in the region.
A Who's Who of Political Families
The list of candidates reads like a roll call of Nashik's political families. From former mayors to sitting legislators, many have fielded their immediate family members. Sandhya Kulkarni, daughter of former mayor Satish Kulkarni, is in the contest. The BJP sees Manish Bagul, grandson of former deputy mayor Bhikubai Bagul and son of leader Sunil Bagul, as a candidate. Similarly, Deepak Badgujar, son of former corporator Sudhakar Badgujar, is trying his luck.
In a interesting move, former mayor Yatin Wagh, who recently switched from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to the BJP, has fielded his wife, Hitesh Wagh, from Ward 13(B) in Nashik East. The trend extends to other parties as well, with Siddhesh Nimse, son of former corporator Uddhav Nimse, also contesting.
Direct Family Feuds and Key Contests
One of the most notable contests is shaping up in Ward 9(D) in the Cidco area, where a family dispute has turned political. Prem Patil, son of former mayor Dashrath Patil, is contesting on a Shiv Sena ticket. He will be directly challenged by his cousin, Amol Patil, the son of former corporator Dinkar Patil, who is the BJP candidate. This ward is poised for a direct and symbolic face-off between the two relatives.
The influence of political families is widespread across wards. From Ward 12(C), BJP state spokesperson Laxman Savji's daughter, Nupur Savji, is contesting. Ward 13 features a crowded field with Aditi Pande (daughter-in-law of former mayor Vinayak Pande), Rashmi Bhosle (wife of former MLA Sachin Bhosle), and Mayuri Pawar (wife of MNS district chief Ankush Pawar).
Widespread Legacy Candidacy Across Wards
The phenomenon is not confined to a few high-profile names. The list extends to numerous other wards, showcasing the pervasive nature of dynasty politics in this civic election.
- Yogesh (Munna) Hiray, brother-in-law of sitting BJP MLA Seema Hiray, is contesting from Ward 7(D).
- Deepali Gite, wife of former NMC standing committee chairman Ganesh Gite, is in the race from Ward 1(C).
- NCP Nashik city chief Ranjan Thakre's wife, Seema Thakre, is contesting from Ward 12(B).
- Nilam Naresh Patil, daughter-in-law of late Congress corporator Vimal Patil, is contesting from Ward 5(C) in Panchavati.
- Wives of former corporators, like Bharti Dhivare (Ward 9(A)) and Kalpana Chumbhale (Ward 24(C)), are also candidates.
What This Means for Nashik's Political Landscape
The sheer number of political heirs contesting the January 15 Nashik Municipal Corporation elections underscores a significant trend. It raises questions about the opportunities for new political talent and the consolidation of family-based political capital in urban local governance. While these candidates bring name recognition and established networks, their dominance could also shape the priorities and functioning of the civic body around familiar, entrenched interests. The outcome will reveal whether Nashik's voters endorse these political legacies or seek a break from tradition.
