Chandrapur Congress Mayoral Impasse Expected to End After Delhi High Command Talks
The protracted deadlock within the Chandrapur unit of the Congress party regarding the election of the mayor is likely to be resolved following crucial discussions with the party high command in New Delhi. Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar made this significant announcement on Monday, indicating that a final decision would be taken after a meeting with Congress general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal scheduled for Tuesday.
High Command Intervention to Break Political Stalemate
With the process for electing the Chandrapur mayor set to begin shortly, Wadettiwar revealed that the party leadership has been fully apprised of the entire complex situation. "Clarity will emerge after the Delhi meeting," he stated confidently, suggesting that the high command's intervention could finally break the political impasse that has plagued the local Congress unit for an extended period.
Wadettiwar emphasized that Congress has initiated determined efforts to ensure that the mayoralty remains with the party, though recent developments have unfortunately delayed the formation of a consensus. The issue has once again assumed considerable urgency as the mayoral election approaches amid sharp factional divisions within the local Congress organization.
Factional Tensions and Alleged Intimidation Incidents
The internal infighting intensified dramatically following an alleged attempt to abduct and intimidate corporators aligned with the Wadettiwar camp on the Samruddhi Expressway while they were returning from Pune. This disturbing incident sharply escalated tensions between the Wadettiwar and Dhanorkar factions, creating additional complications in an already volatile political landscape.
Earlier, the party high command had attempted to defuse the tense situation by brokering a carefully negotiated power-sharing arrangement. Under this understanding:
- The posts of Congress group leader and Mayor in the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation were designated to go to the Dhanorkar faction
- MP Pratibha Dhanorkar was specifically tasked with mobilizing support from remaining corporators
- Wadettiwar's camp, in turn, was assured the Standing Committee chairmanship for the full five-year term
Changing Political Equations and External Alliances
However, the political equation underwent a significant transformation after Shiv Sena (UBT), which commands six corporators, strategically stitched together a 10-member bloc by aligning with two Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi corporators and two independents. This development made their support absolutely crucial in the race for power within the civic body, fundamentally altering the balance of political forces.
Amid the emerging stalemate, Wadettiwar held direct talks with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, proposing an equal sharing of the Mayor's post and the Standing Committee chairmanship. This bold move unsettled the earlier intra-party arrangement and further strained already tense relations with the Dhanorkar camp, creating additional layers of complexity in the political negotiations.
Shifting Allegiances and Decisive Delhi Discussions
Adding to the prevailing uncertainty are persistent reports that five Congress corporators from the Dhanorkar faction may have shifted their allegiance to the Wadettiwar group. This potential realignment has prompted renewed and urgent intervention by the high command, recognizing the critical nature of the situation.
The outcome of the Delhi talks is now widely seen as absolutely decisive for the Congress party's fortunes in Chandrapur. Political observers believe that the high command's decision will determine not only the mayoral election outcome but also the future cohesion and effectiveness of the local Congress unit in this important Maharashtra region.
BJP Consolidates Position with Group Leadership Appointment
In a parallel development, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday formally constituted its authorized group of 24 corporators and elected Shekhar Shetty as its group leader. Shetty, who was elected from the Industrial ward, received the official recommendation for this important post and subsequently obtained approval from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with the state party leadership.
The newly formed group comprises 23 BJP corporators and one corporator from the allied Shiv Sena (Shinde) faction, demonstrating the BJP's organizational consolidation even as the Congress grapples with its internal challenges. This development adds another dimension to the complex political dynamics unfolding within the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation.
