Chandrapur Municipal Elections Produce Hung Corporation
Chandrapur witnessed a fractured verdict in its Municipal Corporation elections, setting the stage for intense political negotiations. Both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress claimed they could form the government despite neither securing a clear majority in the 66-member House.
Close Contest Leaves No Clear Winner
The results declared on Sunday after counting revealed a hung corporation. Senior BJP leader and former Maharashtra minister Sudhir Mungantiwar asserted on Saturday that his party could still gather enough numbers to elect the mayor.
"The contest was neck and neck," Mungantiwar stated. "No party has secured a clear majority. For the development of the city, the BJP has initiated talks with other parties." He expressed confidence that the mayor would come from the BJP and its allies.
Congress Emerges as Single Largest Party
The Congress emerged as the single largest party with 27 seats. Its ally, the Bhartiya Shetkari Kamgar Paksh, won three seats, bringing their combined tally to 30.
The BJP secured 23 seats, while its ally, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), won one seat. This placed the BJP-led alliance at 24 seats, well short of the magic figure of 34 required to form the civic body.
Smaller Parties Hold Balance of Power
Smaller parties and independents now control the balance of power:
- The Shiv Sena (UBT), a Congress ally in the Maha Vikas Aghadi, won six seats
- The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi secured two seats
- The AIMIM and Bahujan Samaj Party each won one seat
- Two independents, both Congress rebels, were also elected
Mungantiwar noted that while the BJP enjoyed a clear majority in the 2017 civic polls, this election saw a much closer contest. He pointed out that Congress had also failed to reach the halfway mark.
Congress Claims It Can Form Government
Congress Legislature Party leader and MLA Vijay Wadettiwar asserted on Friday that his party would form the government. He argued that the two independents, who were denied tickets but remained ideologically aligned with Congress, would support them.
"If the six Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators, our MVA partners, join us, the tally rises to 38," Wadettiwar explained. "We are also in touch with others, and the number could go up to 42 or more."
Shiv Sena (UBT) Emerges as Kingmaker
The hung House has positioned Shiv Sena (UBT) as the potential kingmaker. With negotiations intensifying behind closed doors, Chandrapur faces a high-stakes battle of numbers, alliances, and persuasion.
This political maneuvering will determine not just the next mayor, but also shape the city's political narrative for the next five years. The outcome remains uncertain as both major parties scramble to secure the necessary support from smaller groups and independents.
