Hazaribag Civic Polls: Political Lobbying Intensifies for Mayor and Councillor Posts
With the bugle sounded for the Hazaribag Municipal Corporation civic body polls, aspiring candidates have begun intense lobbying with political parties to secure support for both councillor positions and the coveted mayoral chair. Although these elections are officially designated as non-party-based, political alignments and behind-the-scenes parleys have significantly intensified across the district.
Political Heavyweights Become Key Targets for Support
Several former and prospective councillors have made repeated rounds to BJP MP Manish Jaiswal and Hazaribag Sadar MLA Pradip Prasad, seeking their endorsement to strengthen their claims for the mayoral position. While candidates publicly cite development of the city's 36 wards, improvement of civic amenities, and leadership credibility as key electoral issues, political arithmetic is widely expected to play a decisive role in determining the final outcome.
Experience Versus Political Pressure in Mayoral Race
Veteran grassroots-level leaders across various political parties have also thrown their hats into the ring, passionately arguing that their extensive experience and proven public service records should outweigh both money power and political pressure in this crucial election. Political observers have noted a significant shift in this election cycle, with the leadership quality of the civic body becoming the central issue unlike previous elections where other factors dominated the discourse.
Development Criticisms and Civic Concerns Take Center Stage
Former mayor Roshni Tirkey of the BJP faced substantial criticism during her tenure over what many residents perceived as an unacceptably slow pace of development in Hazaribag. Critical issues including drinking water supply reliability, sanitation infrastructure, road conditions, and street lighting adequacy have emerged as top concerns that candidates must address to win voter confidence in this election.
Party Backing Remains Crucial Despite Non-Party Election Status
A senior BJP leader who is actively participating in the race candidly admitted that party backing continues to be viewed as a crucial factor for electoral victory, despite the officially non-party nature of the municipal elections. This acknowledgment highlights the complex political reality underlying the supposedly apolitical electoral process.
Criticism of Backstage Political Manoeuvring
Rashtriya OBC Morcha secretary and prominent lawyer Suresh Thakur strongly criticised what he termed "backstage manoeuvring" by political parties, asserting that mayoral aspirants should contest based solely on their individual merit and qualifications. "If party-backed candidates keep winning these supposedly non-political elections, the municipal corporation will inevitably function like an extension of political offices, potentially hampering genuine development work and alienating opposition councillors from meaningful participation," he emphasized.
BJP Stronghold Dynamics and Voter Perspectives
Local trader Ravi Ranjan Singh offered a pragmatic assessment of the political landscape, noting that "Hazaribag has long been considered a BJP stronghold, with the first mayor Roshni Tirkey also hailing from the saffron party. Analyzing current developments and previous electoral trends in this BJP bastion, it appears increasingly likely that the ultimate winner will represent a political party rather than standing as a truly independent individual."
Opposition Parties Actively Engage in Political Calculations
Political aspirants have also started knocking on the doors of JMM and Congress parties, both of which form part of the ruling alliance in the state, seeking their support for the upcoming polls. A JMM leader speaking on condition of anonymity frankly admitted that every political party is closely eyeing the influential mayoral seat, resulting in intensive backstage exercises. "It's an important administrative post with significant influence over local development. Naturally, I want our party's representative to occupy the mayor's chair," the leader added.
Calls for Non-Political Leadership in Civic Administration
Congress leader Manoj Narayan Bhagat presented a contrasting perspective, arguing that Hazaribag residents are not receiving adequate facilities commensurate with the various taxes levied upon them. "A genuinely non-political mayor who prioritizes public service over party interests represents the pressing demand of our present times," he told media representatives, highlighting growing public frustration with politically-driven civic administration.
