Political Lobbying Intensifies for Mayoral Positions Across Marathwada Civic Bodies
With the mayoral reservation framework now clearly established across the Marathwada region, intense political lobbying has erupted for the key leadership positions in various civic bodies. Eligible candidates from major political parties are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to secure these influential posts, setting the stage for significant political maneuvering in the coming weeks.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: General Category to Lead with Merit-Based Selection
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the mayoral post has been designated for a general category candidate, sparking considerable interest among potential contenders. BJP cabinet minister Atul Save has emphasized that merit will be the primary driver in the selection process. He revealed that the party's core committee, in consultation with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other senior state-level functionaries, will make the final decision regarding the mayoral candidate for this important municipal corporation.
Several prominent names have emerged as front-runners for the coveted position in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. These include Sameer Rajurkar, Rajgaurav Wankhede, Vijay Autade, Pramod Rathod, and Shivaji Dandge, all of whom are actively campaigning for consideration. "We have several capable candidates to chair the mayoral posts," Save stated. "The selection will be made by the core committee and others purely based on merit."
Reservation Patterns Across Marathwada Municipal Corporations
The reservation landscape for mayoral positions varies significantly across different municipal corporations in the Marathwada region:
- Parbhani: The mayoral post has been reserved for the general category
- Nanded: The position will go to a woman from the general category
- Latur and Jalna: Both civic bodies will have their first citizen from the Scheduled Caste (SC) woman category
Political Dynamics in Other Municipal Corporations
In Nanded, where the BJP secured an impressive 45 out of 81 seats in the local municipal corporation elections, party functionaries have expressed confidence in their selection process. A local BJP politician noted, "We have women corporators among our winning candidates. The party leadership at the state level will decide the name after recommendations from our side."
Congress politician Jitendra Dehade highlighted his party's position in the SC category reservations, stating, "We have three women corporators in the SC category. Of the three such corporators, one is in her second term as a corporator, and the other two are in their maiden term. The party leadership will take a final call."
Jalna, which witnessed its maiden elections for the municipal corporation, is poised to have its first mayor from the SC woman category. The BJP enjoyed a decisive victory in the civic polls here, securing approximately 41 out of 65 seats.
Potential Conflict in Parbhani Municipal Council
An interesting political dynamic is unfolding in Parbhani, where Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress jointly hold a majority in the municipal council. The two parties are expected to engage in negotiations and potentially face a tussle over both the selection of the mayor and the sharing of the term for this key position. This alliance partnership will be tested as they navigate the distribution of power in the civic administration.
The coming weeks will reveal how these political calculations play out across Marathwada's civic bodies, with party leadership at both local and state levels playing crucial roles in determining who will lead these important urban centers.
