The final day for filing nomination papers for the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation elections descended into political chaos on Tuesday, marked by intense backlash, public protests, and a shocking attempt at self-immolation. Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) faced severe anger from party workers who were denied tickets at the last moment.
BJP Office Turns into Epicenter of Chaos
Outside the local BJP office, the scene was one of high tension as hundreds of hopeful candidates gathered to collect their nomination forms. The atmosphere turned volatile when several long-time party workers were informed they would not be receiving tickets to contest.
The situation reached a critical point when Divya Marathe, a BJP functionary and aspirant from Ward 20, allegedly poured petrol on herself outside the party office in a drastic act of protest. Quick intervention by police personnel present at the spot prevented a tragedy, as they restrained her immediately.
Eyewitnesses reported that Marathe, along with other agitated workers, tried to forcefully enter the cabins of senior party leaders, even damaging a door in the process. During the heated confrontation, she reportedly produced a bottle of petrol and threatened to set herself on fire. Faced with the mounting rage, senior BJP politicians left the premises to avoid further escalation.
Allegations of Betrayal and Sidelining Grassroots Workers
Angry BJP workers voiced their frustration, alleging that loyal members who had served the party for years were unceremoniously dropped at the eleventh hour. Some aspirants, including a serving assistant police inspector, had even resigned from their jobs to contest the civic polls, only to be left in the lurch.
Divya Marathe leveled serious accusations against the local BJP leadership. She claimed to have faced 15 legal cases for the party and carried out significant development work during her earlier tenure as a corporator. "My name featured in surveys earlier too, but I was denied a ticket then as well. I worked for BJP for 18 years and will seek answers," she stated.
She further accused the leadership of marginalizing dedicated women workers from the grassroots. "When the party was in trouble, I worked tirelessly, even when my children were young. Now, old workers are being ignored while leaders' families enjoy power," Marathe alleged. Workers from the Republican Party of India (Athawale) alliance also accused the BJP of backstabbing them, leading to slogan-shouting and poster-tearing at the BJP office.
AIMIM Confronts Wave of Protests; Independent Candidate from Prison
The political drama was not confined to the BJP. The AIMIM witnessed a significant wave of protests by disgruntled aspirants, which included former corporators and key office-bearers like Naser Siddiqui, Aref Hussaini, and Abu Lala Hashmi. The protesters blocked roads, disrupted traffic, and shouted slogans against former MP and state party president Imtiaz Jaleel. In a symbolic act of defiance, they tore and burnt posters bearing Jaleel's image.
Social media platforms were flooded with criticism aimed at the AIMIM's leadership and its opaque ticket distribution process. Hours after the protests, Jaleel emerged from his residence with the newly announced candidates and publicly apologized, stating he was unable to accommodate all loyal workers and aspirants.
In a separate notable incident, Syed Mujeeb, an accused in a recent murder case, filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate from Ward 4. He was escorted by police from Harsul Central Prison specifically for this purpose.
Regional Unrest Mirrors Local Chaos
Similar scenes of political unrest were reported from other municipal corporations in the region, including Jalna. Denied aspirants from various parties staged protests, with some resorting to touching the feet of senior politicians in a desperate plea for candidature. This widespread discontent highlights the intense internal pressures and high stakes involved in the upcoming local body elections across Maharashtra.
