In a significant political realignment ahead of the crucial Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) polls, two former city mayors crossed over to the Shiv Sena on Tuesday. The inductions of Ashok Murtadak and Dashrath Patil are seen as a major coup for the party led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, potentially reshaping the contest for the civic body scheduled for January 15.
High-Profile Inductions in Mumbai
The formal joining ceremony took place in Mumbai in the presence of senior Shiv Sena leaders. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, State Education Minister Dada Bhuse, and former MP Hemant Godse oversaw the event, underscoring its importance for the party's strategy in Nashik. The move is aimed at consolidating the party's position and leveraging the local influence of the seasoned politicians.
Ashok Murtadak's Political Journey
Ashok Murtadak's political career has been marked by several switches in recent years. He served as the mayor of Nashik from September 2014 to March 2017 under the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) banner. Last year, he aligned with the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction before moving to the BJP just last month, reportedly after being assured a ticket for the civic election.
When the BJP denied him the candidacy, Murtadak expressed his discontent and filed his nomination as an independent candidate from Ward 5. His latest pivot to the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde marks yet another turn in his evolving political path, highlighting the intense ticket negotiations happening across parties.
Dashrath Patil's Exit from BJP
Dashrath Patil, who was the mayor of Nashik from March 2002 to February 2005 when the undivided Shiv Sena controlled the municipal corporation, also resigned from the BJP to join the Shinde camp. Patil had entered the BJP approximately 18 months ago with the expectation that his son, Prem, would get a ticket to contest the upcoming election.
However, the party nominated Amol Patil, son of Dinkar Patil and nephew of Dashrath Patil, from Ward 9 instead. This decision prompted Dashrath Patil's exit, demonstrating how familial and local loyalties often dictate political moves in the run-up to elections.
A Pattern of Political Churn
The political maneuvering is not limited to these two leaders. The scene in Nashik has seen other former mayors switching allegiances based on ticket assurances. Yatin Wagh, Nashik's first mayor from the MNS, joined the undivided Shiv Sena before the 2019 assembly elections. After the party split, he sided with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and has now recently moved to the BJP.
His shift came after being "promised" a ticket for his wife from Ward 13. This pattern underscores the intense bargaining and strategic hops that characterize election seasons, with veteran leaders seeking the best platform for themselves or their kin.
NCP Leader Also Makes the Switch
Adding to the day's series of realignments, former MLA and NCP (SP) state vice-president Nitin Bhosle, along with a contingent of his supporters, also joined the Shiv Sena in Mumbai in the presence of Eknath Shinde. This multi-party influx of leaders into the Shiv Sena fold indicates a concerted effort to build a formidable coalition ahead of the Nashik civic polls.
Reshaping Nashik's Electoral Dynamics
These high-profile inductions are expected to significantly impact the electoral dynamics in Nashik. The Shiv Sena, by bringing influential local figures with established voter bases into its camp, aims to gain an edge in the fiercely contested municipal corporation election. The moves reflect the larger game of political chess being played in Maharashtra, where local body polls are often a testing ground for party strength and strategy.
As the January 15 election date approaches, the defection of experienced leaders like Murtadak and Patil could lead to a recalibration of campaign strategies for all major parties involved, making the Nashik polls a closely watched political battle.
