The final day for submitting nominations for the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra descended into chaos on Tuesday, marked by dramatic protests, internal party rebellions, and public displays of anger. From Mumbai to Pune and Nashik to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, political parties across the spectrum grappled with discontent among workers and aspirants over ticket distribution, leading to resignations, vandalism, and even an attempted self-immolation.
High-Octane Drama Across Key Cities
The ruling Mahayuti alliance witnessed the most intense conflicts, attributed to a higher number of aspirants for seats after a long electoral break. In Nashik, the scene turned cinematic as two BJP MLAs, Seema Hire and Rahul Dhikale, along with other party officials, were chased by hopeful candidates. The chase ensued because the leaders were carrying the crucial 'A' and 'B' forms required for filing nominations. The incident culminated in party workers breaking into a farmhouse to confront the leadership.
This was not an isolated event in Nashik. Just a week prior, BJP MLA Devyani Farande and others had opposed senior minister Girish Mahajan's move to induct leaders from rival parties like Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and MNS. Minister Mahajan later downplayed the chase, calling it a result of having too many aspirants for limited tickets.
Rebellion and Resignations Rock Mumbai and Thane
In the capital Mumbai, the Shiv Sena (UBT) faced open rebellion as senior leaders Priti Patankar, Anil Kokil, and Chandrashekhar Wayangankar decided to file their nominations as independent candidates. The BJP was not immune either, facing protests for allegedly sidelining original workers in favour of newly inducted members. Resignations poured in from party workers in areas like Mulund, Chembur, Goregaon, and Colaba.
In Chembur, three BJP rebels filed as independents. A particularly notable challenge emerged against Harshita Narvekar, the sister-in-law of Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, with a BJP rebel filing a nomination against her. The BJP has fielded three members of Speaker Narvekar's family, including his brother Makarand and cousin Gauravi Shivalkar-Narvekar.
Thane witnessed violent protests inside the BJP office, leading to vandalism. Within the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the sons of two prominent leaders—Thane MP Naresh Mhaske's son Ashutosh and minister Pratap Sarnaik's son Purvesh—were forced to withdraw their nominations following internal party opposition.
Violent Outbursts in Sambhajinagar and Tense Pune
The situation turned particularly volatile in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) following the announcement of a broken alliance between the Shinde-led Sena and the BJP. Angry workers stormed the BJP office, allegedly breaking the cabin doors of minister Atul Save and BJP leader Bhagwat Karad. In a shocking incident, a woman party worker attempted self-immolation by pouring petrol on herself, but was stopped by timely police intervention. The protesters alleged that loyal workers were being neglected in favour of newcomers.
Pune remained on edge until the last moment due to uncertainty over the Shiv Sena (Shinde)-BJP alliance. Conflicting statements emerged from local leaders, with one group led by Nana Bhangire announcing the end of the alliance, while MLA Vijay Shivtare claimed talks were ongoing. In a controversial move from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, a ticket was given to the wife of infamous criminal Gaja Marne, along with Sonali and Laxmi Andekar, who are allegedly involved in the murder of Ayush Komkar.
The day's events underscore the deep-seated tensions and high stakes involved in the upcoming municipal polls, setting the stage for a fiercely contested election across Maharashtra's major urban centres.
