Senior NCP leader from the Ajit Pawar faction and Rajya Sabha MP, Praful Patel, made a strong pitch for his party's significance in the ruling alliance and the development of Nagpur during a series of election rallies on Saturday. He emphasized that the Nationalist Congress Party remains a crucial stakeholder in both government and urban development initiatives.
NCP's Stamp on Governance and Development
Addressing four rallies in support of 83 party candidates contesting the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections, Patel reminded the electorate of his party's contributions. He specifically pointed to the Ladki Bahin scheme as a clear example of the leadership provided by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and his faction. Patel was accompanied by city president Anil Ahirkar and working president Shrikant Shivankar during these public meetings.
Patel held rallies for candidates across several prabhags, including Abha Pande, Nitin Sathawne, Sunita Yerne, Roshni Ladge, Aditya Bhoyar, Vijay Kawre, Prajakta Vaidya, Bhagwan Mendhe, Mumtaj Baji, and Abdular Sheikh.
Civic Elections: A Priority, Not an Afterthought
Patel urged voters not to treat the upcoming civic polls as secondary to state or national politics. "Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha and national issues are discussed everywhere, but people face NMC-related problems every single day. That is why these elections must be taken seriously," he stated.
He called on citizens to elect capable corporators who can address fundamental civic concerns such as roads, sanitation, water supply, and slum development. Patel underlined that the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) is an integral part of the Mahayuti (grand alliance) and shares equal responsibility in resolving Nagpur's issues. "We are in power and will work with the same authority as other ruling parties in the state," he asserted.
Past Legacy and Future Promises
Highlighting the party's historical role in the city's growth, Patel recalled that the Nagpur airport expansion and the Mihan project received decisive momentum during his tenure as a Union Minister. He also claimed personal involvement in naming the Nagpur airport after Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Responding to public anger over civic failures, Patel candidly admitted that dissatisfaction with past governance has impacted all political parties. "We too end up bearing the consequences of others' mistakes and public anger," he said in Hindi, adding that his party is now aggressively focusing on the city. "I am from Nagpur, and it is my responsibility to stand firmly behind every NCP (AP) candidate," he affirmed.
Patel stressed that the party possesses the necessary financial and administrative capacity to channel development funds to the city, just like its ruling allies. Using a cricketing analogy, he explained, "We don't believe only in hitting fours and sixes. Even single runs matter. Step-by-step work is what resolves civic issues."
Reiterating the party's commitment, Patel said NCP (AP) candidates were carefully shortlisted and vowed to fulfill their promises to drive Nagpur's progress. The party also released a local development manifesto, unveiled by Patel, which focuses on:
- Strengthening civic infrastructure
- Improving healthcare services
- Empowering women
- Creating local employment opportunities for youth
Patel concluded with a vision for the region, stating, "Vidarbha is the heart of Maharashtra, and Nagpur must prosper. We believe in unity, not division or discrimination."
