The general body meeting of the Nashik Municipal Corporation, originally scheduled for May 20, will now be conducted in offline mode following strong opposition from ruling BJP corporators. This forced Mayor Himgauri Aaher to roll back her earlier decision to hold the meeting online.
Background of the Decision
Mayor Aaher had initially announced that the meeting would be held online, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent appeal to conserve fuel and promote digital governance. However, the proposal faced resistance from corporators across party lines, who raised concerns about the effectiveness of virtual proceedings.
Late-Night Meeting and Reversal
The issue was discussed at a late-night meeting of BJP corporators on Monday, chaired by the mayor. During the nearly three-hour deliberation, members unanimously demanded a physical meeting. Consequently, the mayor agreed to withdraw the earlier decision. The town secretary department issued a notification on Tuesday confirming the meeting would take place at the civic headquarters.
The civic administration has urged corporators to use electric vehicles or public transport while attending the meeting to promote sustainability.
Reasons for Opposition
Corporators argued that online meetings limit discussion time and effective participation, especially given several pressing civic issues requiring detailed deliberation. These include ongoing works related to the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela, irregular water supply, poor road conditions, sewerage problems, and pending infrastructure projects.
BJP group leader Shyam Badode stated, "We held a meeting with the party corporators and they strongly favoured the offline GB meeting, considering multiple pressing issues affecting the city. Physical meetings allow detailed discussions and ensure prompt decision-making."
Opposition from Other Parties
The initial decision to conduct the meeting online also faced stiff resistance from opposition parties. Shiv Sena (UBT) was the first to oppose the move, followed by corporators from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which is part of the ruling alliance in the NMC.
Shiv Sena corporator Rahul Dive submitted a memorandum to town secretary Sanjay Nerkar, demanding adherence to the conventional in-person format. "Alliance with the BJP does not mean unconditional support. Decisions must be practical and effective," Dive said.
UBT group leader Keshav Porje also met municipal commissioner Manisha Khatri, urging reconsideration of the decision.
