In a bold strategic move ahead of the crucial Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections scheduled for January 15, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has undertaken a massive overhaul of its candidate lineup. The party has decided to drop a staggering 34 former corporators from its list of nominees, many of whom were prominent winners in the 2017 civic polls.
A Strategic Shift Towards 'Winnability'
This dramatic reshuffle signals a clear and drastic shift in the party's local electoral strategy in Nashik. Moving away from established incumbents, the BJP's selection process was reportedly governed entirely by the principle of 'winnability'. Party insiders revealed that candidates were chosen based on the results of three separate internal surveys conducted over several months, prioritizing competitive success over traditional party loyalty or seniority.
To fill the gaps created by this purge, the BJP has turned to 22 'imported' leaders who recently defected from rival political outfits. These new nominees come from parties including the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Congress, and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). This pragmatic strategy aims to instantly bolster the BJP's ranks with candidates who bring their own existing influence and dedicated support bases from their previous affiliations.
Notable Omissions and New Family Entries
Among the 34 former corporators denied tickets are several notable figures, including some who had recently crossed over to the BJP ahead of the civic elections. The list of those left out includes Ruchi Kumbharkar, Jagdish Patil, Kamlesh Bodke, Varsha Bhalerao, Vaishali Bhosle, former Mayor Ashok Murtadak, Dilip Datir, Hemlata Kandekar, and Harsha Badgujar.
In a parallel move to balance change with continuity, the party has also fielded relatives of nine former corporators. This appears to be an attempt to retain influence in traditional strongholds while still introducing new faces. Those who have received tickets under this formula include Sandhya Kulkarni (daughter of former mayor Satish Kulkarni), Dipali Gite (wife of former standing committee chairman Ganesh Gite), Riddhish Nimse (son of Uddhav Nimse), and Manish Bagul (grandson of former deputy Mayor Bhikubai Bagul).
The Defectors Who Made the Cut
Meanwhile, several leaders who recently joined the BJP from rival parties have successfully secured nominations. The former corporators from other parties who are now BJP candidates include Sudhakar Badgujar, Shahu Khaire, Gurumit Bagga, Dinkar Ahdav, Sharad More, Kalpana Chumble, and Rajendra Mahale.
The overarching aim of this comprehensive shake-up is ambitious: to propel the party towards its target of winning more than 100 out of the 122 seats available in the Nashik Municipal Corporation. By sidelining a large group of incumbents and betting heavily on defectors with local clout, the BJP is clearly attempting to rewrite the political rulebook for Nashik's civic elections, making winnability its sole and supreme criterion.
