In a significant political development, the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has formally registered its group of corporators with the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC). The registration process was completed on Friday at the divisional commissionerate in Nashik city, marking a crucial step ahead of the impending mayoral and deputy mayoral elections.
Registration Process Under Official Scrutiny
The group registration was conducted in the presence of Nashik divisional commissioner Praveen Gedam, who oversaw the entire procedure. Commissioner Gedam meticulously inspected all necessary documents with assistance from his staff members to ensure compliance with municipal election regulations. All 26 corporators elected from Shiv Sena in the recent NMC polls were present during this formal registration event, demonstrating party unity and organizational discipline.
Leadership Appointment and Election Preparations
Prior to this registration, Shiv Sena had already appointed senior party functionary Ajay Boraste as the group leader within NMC on Thursday. Boraste, who serves as deputy leader of the party, will now shoulder significant responsibilities including issuing whips and managing organizational decisions during the upcoming electoral process.
According to municipal election rules, such group registration is mandatory for any political party wishing to participate in elections for the prestigious positions of mayor and deputy mayor. With this registration now complete, Shiv Sena has formally entered the electoral fray alongside other major political players in Nashik's municipal politics.
Political Landscape and Election Timeline
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) had already registered their respective corporator groups at the Nashik divisional commissionerate earlier. With Shiv Sena's Friday registration, all major political parties have now completed this essential procedural requirement, effectively setting the stage for the forthcoming mayoral elections scheduled for February 6.
The nomination process for both mayoral and deputy mayoral positions will occur between 11 AM and 2 PM on February 3. Application forms for these positions are currently available for purchase at the office of the municipal corporation's town secretary, facilitating the formal candidacy declarations.
Electoral Mathematics and Expected Outcomes
In the recent Nashik Municipal Corporation elections held for 122 total seats, the BJP emerged as the clear majority party with 72 seats. This decisive victory virtually guarantees that the next mayor and deputy mayor will hail from the BJP ranks, given their commanding position in the corporation.
The complete electoral breakdown reveals Shiv Sena secured 26 seats, followed by Shiv Sena (UBT) with 15 seats, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with 4 seats, Congress with 3 seats, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) with 1 seat, and an independent candidate claiming the remaining seat. This distribution establishes BJP's dominant position while creating an interesting dynamic among opposition parties as they prepare for the leadership elections.
With all procedural formalities now in place and major political groups having registered their corporator blocs, Nashik's political machinery is fully engaged in preparations for the crucial February 6 elections that will determine the city's municipal leadership for the coming term.
