NCP and NCP(SP) Announce Leaders for Pune Municipal Corporation
In a significant development for Pune's political landscape, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has officially declared Nilesh Nikam as its leader within the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Concurrently, the NCP(Sharadchandra Pawar) faction, which holds three corporator seats, has named Sopan Chavan as its leader in the civic body. These appointments come as political parties gear up for the crucial mayoral election scheduled for February 6.
Political Dynamics in PMC Post-Election
The recent PMC elections, results of which were announced on January 16, saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerge as the dominant force with 119 out of 165 seats. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP secured 27 seats, positioning itself as the second-largest party. The Congress won 15 seats, while the NCP(SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) garnered three and one seat, respectively.
Nilesh Nikam, a seasoned corporator, marks his return to the PMC after a 14-year hiatus. With a history of three prior terms, Nikam previously served as the Chairperson of the Standing Committee during the NCP's tenure in the PMC. His reappointment underscores the party's strategy to leverage experienced leadership in navigating the civic body's affairs.
Formalizing Party Groups and Upcoming Elections
As per regulatory requirements, all political parties must formally establish their groups by submitting details of winning candidates and designated leaders to the Divisional Commissioner of Pune. This step is pivotal for organizing the first meeting of the civic general body, which will elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
Yogita Bhosale, Municipal Secretary of PMC, emphasized the procedural timeline, stating, "The civic administration must issue a notice for the Mayor election once party groups and their leaders are finalized. This notice period spans one week." Notably, the Mayor's post is reserved for a woman corporator in the general category, thereby excluding the 76 male corporators from contention.
BJP's Position and Committee Formations
With the BJP as the single largest party, it is poised to have one of its corporators elected as Mayor, with multiple candidates under consideration. A BJP leader commented, "Since the Mayor position is reserved for women, the BJP's Leader of the House in PMC will be a male corporator. Several contenders are vying for this role, and a final decision is pending."
Following the election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the PMC will proceed to form key committees, including the Standing Committee, City Improvement Committee, Legal Committee, Women and Child Welfare Committee, and Sports Committee. Each committee will comprise corporators as members, with one member elected as Chairperson for their respective panels.
These developments highlight the intricate political maneuvering in Pune as parties solidify their leadership and prepare for governance roles in the municipal corporation.
