BJP Rebel Narayan Chaudhary Elected Bhiwandi Mayor in Congress-Led Alliance Victory
In a significant political setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its rebel corporator Narayan Chaudhary was elected mayor of the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC) on Friday. Chaudhary, who broke away from the BJP along with five other corporators, aligned with the Congress-led 'Bhiwandi Secular Front' to secure the mayoral position, marking a dramatic shift in the city's political landscape.
Mayoral Election Results and Vote Breakdown
Contesting as the mayoral candidate of the 'Bhiwandi Secular Front', which included the Congress with its 30 corporators and the NCP (SP) with 12, Narayan Chaudhary garnered 48 votes in a House of 90. The House was effectively reduced to 89 on Friday due to one corporator abstaining from the vote. The BJP's nominee, Sneha Mehul Patil, received only 16 votes, while Vilas Patil of the Konark Vikas Aghadi (KVA) polled 25 votes. In a related development, Congress' Tariq Momin was elected deputy mayor, securing 43 votes in the election.
Background and Political Dynamics
The political drama unfolded after the January 15 civic elections, where the Congress emerged as the single largest party with 30 seats, followed by the BJP with 22 seats, Shiv Sena with 12, NCP-SP with 12, SP with 6, KVA with 4, Bhiwandi Vikas Aghadi with 3, and one independent. Initially, the BJP announced that Narayan Chaudhary would be its mayoral candidate, but it later replaced him with Sneha Patil. This decision triggered Chaudhary's rebellion, leading him to join hands with the Congress and NCP (SP), who agreed to field him as the mayoral candidate of the newly formed 'secular front'.
Rebellion and Party Response
Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan stated that action would be taken against Chaudhary and the other corporators who allegedly defied the party whip in the mayoral polls. The rebellion involved six BJP corporators, including Chaudhary, who voted for the 'Bhiwandi Secular Front', contributing to its total of 48 votes. Interestingly, while the front secured 48 votes in the mayoral contest, the Congress won the deputy mayor's post with 43 votes, indicating some variance in support among the alliance partners.
Impact of Shiv Sena and BJP Dispute
The dispute between the BJP and the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena also played a crucial role in the election outcomes. The Shiv Sena did not align with the BJP for the mayoral election, and the presence of three candidates in the deputy mayor's election worked to the advantage of the Congress-led front. This internal rift within the BJP and its allies facilitated the Congress' ability to consolidate support and secure key positions in the municipal corporation.
Key Takeaways from the Election
- Political Realignment: The election highlights a major realignment in Bhiwandi's politics, with a BJP rebel successfully leveraging Congress support to win the mayoral seat.
- Vote Share Analysis: The 'Bhiwandi Secular Front' demonstrated strong cohesion, securing 48 votes against the BJP's 16, reflecting significant dissent within the BJP ranks.
- Future Implications: This outcome could have lasting implications for BJP's strategy in Maharashtra, especially in handling internal rebellions and alliance management.
Overall, the election of Narayan Chaudhary as mayor and Tariq Momin as deputy mayor underscores the volatile nature of local politics in Maharashtra and the challenges faced by the BJP in maintaining party discipline and coalition stability.
