The political landscape in Nagpur has officially shifted into high gear as the process for filing nominations for the long-awaited Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections commenced on Tuesday. This marks the beginning of a crucial and intense phase leading up to the polling day on January 15, which will decide the civic body's composition after a gap since 2017.
Nomination Timeline and Administrative Preparations
The election machinery is now fully operational across the city's 10 administrative zones, with returning officers appointed under the directives of Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari. The 38 wards of Nagpur have been grouped into these zones for smoother management. Aspiring candidates have a window until December 30 to submit their nomination papers.
Following this, the scrutiny of all nominations will be conducted on December 31. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until January 2. The final allocation of election symbols and the publication of the official candidate list is scheduled for January 3. The fate of 151 seats in the NMC general body will be determined by voters on January 15, with the counting of votes set for January 16.
Political Churn and Party Manoeuvres
The commencement of nominations has been accompanied by significant political realignments and internal party tensions. In a major blow to the Congress, former party corporator Darshani Dhawad joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday. Her induction was given prominence, being welcomed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, MLA Pravin Datke, and city BJP president Dayashankar Tiwari.
Simultaneously, the Congress is grappling with internal discipline issues. The party has reportedly barred three former corporators—Kamlesh Choudhary, Manoj Sangole, and Purushottam Hazare—from contesting the civic polls. This action comes as a response to their alleged rebellion and engagement in anti-party activities during the previous Assembly elections, highlighting the leadership's attempt to curb factionalism amid defections.
Seat Reservations and Streamlined Permissions
Of the total 151 seats, 76 are reserved for women, ensuring significant female representation. The category-wise breakdown is as follows: 30 seats for Scheduled Castes (15 for women), 12 for Scheduled Tribes (six for women), 40 for Other Backward Classes (20 for women), and 69 open seats, out of which 35 are reserved for women.
To facilitate candidates, a central single-window facilitation centre has been established at the NMC headquarters in the birth and death registration office premises. This centre is handling a heavy rush of aspirants seeking necessary clearances. Civic officials report that over 650 applications have already been submitted, with 255 No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) issued so far. Candidates must secure NOCs from the property tax, water supply tax, and lease rent departments to be eligible.
The single-window system also streamlines permissions for campaign essentials, including licenses for authorized banners, approvals for campaign vehicles, and clearances for rallies and events featuring star campaigners. Operating daily from 11 am to 5:30 pm, the centre is expected to get busier as the nomination deadline nears.
With the nomination process now open, political equations being reshaped by defections, and parties scrambling to finalize their ward-wise candidates, the stage is set for a fiercely contested civic battle. The January 15 Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections are poised to determine the city's administrative and political trajectory after years under an administrator's rule.
