Voters in North Nagpur's Prabhag 7 have long presented a fascinating political puzzle, consistently splitting their preferences between national and local elections. Historically, they have backed the Congress in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, while placing their trust in the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) when it comes to civic body elections. This unique trend is set to face a fresh test in the upcoming Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mounting a serious challenge to break its duck in the area.
The Electoral History and Caste Calculus
Prabhag 7 is a classic study of this split-voting behavior. In the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the ward gave a clear lead to the Congress. However, the central question is how much of that advantage will translate into votes for the civic polls. In the last NMC elections, three corporators from the BSP and one from the Congress were elected from this Prabhag. The BJP, so far, has failed to open its account here.
The demographic composition of the area plays a crucial role in shaping these outcomes. The Prabhag has a strong Scheduled Caste presence, accounting for around 60% of the total population. Other Backward Class (OBC) voters make up about 40%, while Muslims and the Halba community together constitute roughly 4%. Ward 7 has the second-highest Scheduled Caste population in Nagpur city, making caste equations a decisive factor.
The Key Contenders and Past Performances
Senior Congress leader Sandeep Sahare has been a dominant figure, winning consistently from this area since 2002 and retaining the seat in the last election. However, BSP's Abhishek Shambharkar gave him a tough fight. The BJP candidate, Navneetsingh Tuli, finished third in the previous assembly contest. In the 2017 civic polls, BSP candidates Viranka Bhivgade, Sheikh Mohammed Jamal, and Mangala Lanjewar emerged victorious alongside Congress's Sahare.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had fielded Varsha Shyamkule, Maya Meshram, and Mahendra Bhange, but none could cross the 3,000-vote mark. This split ultimately dented the Congress's prospects in some wards.
Ground Realities and Voter Concerns
Lashkaribagh is considered the central part of North Nagpur and comprises several old and historically significant localities. Despite this, a large portion of the Prabhag consists of slums and underdeveloped areas. Residents of long-established neighbourhoods continue to grapple with poor sanitation, choked drainage lines, broken infrastructure, and persistent civic neglect.
The key issues plaguing the area include:
- Broken retaining walls and encroachments along Chambhar Nala.
- Encroachments on the road between Kamal Chowk and Indora Chowk.
- Lack of facilities at the NMC health centre in Pachpaoli.
- Pending distribution of land ownership rights in Jyoti Nagar and New Indora slum.
- Many eligible residents being deprived of benefits under government housing schemes.
The Upcoming Battle: Aspirants and Party Strategies
For the upcoming NMC polls, the Congress aspirants include Sandeep Sahare, Kalpana Dronkar, Prof Jayant Jambhulkar, Abhishek Shambharkar, Sheikh Asif, and Chetan Tarare. The BJP, which claims to have strengthened its organisational base in recent years, has hopefuls like Rakhi Manvatkar, Sanjay Tarare, Ravindra Dongre, Omprakash Ingale, Jagdish Bamnet, and Dhananjay Kamble. The party is making a determined push to ensure the lotus blooms this time.
The BSP has a long list of aspirants, including sitting corporators Viranka Bhivgade, Mangala Lanjewar, and Mohammed Jamal, along with Sanjay Jaiswal, Subodh Sakhare, Vamanrao Somkuvar, Tapesh Patil, Shoaib Parvez, and Prashant Paik. This sets the stage for a triangular contest between the BSP, Congress, and BJP.
The electoral math is defined by a total of 63,312 voters, comprising 30,526 men and 32,786 women. The reservation pattern for the Prabhag's wards is: A (SC Women), B (OBC), C (General Women), and D (General). With prominent areas like Lashkaribagh, New Indora Slum, and Laghuvetan Colony within its bounds, the outcome in Prabhag 7 will be a significant indicator of Nagpur's political winds.
