North Nagpur's Prabhag 2, which holds the highest concentration of Scheduled Caste voters in the region, is poised for a politically intense battle in the upcoming Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections. The civic polls, being held after a gap of nearly nine years, will see shifting alignments and heightened competition in this crucial ward.
Historical Dominance and Current Political Churn
In the 2017 civic elections, the Congress party achieved complete dominance by winning all four seats from this Prabhag. Historically, electoral contests here have largely been a direct fight between the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and a similar bipolar contest is anticipated this time as well.
A significant factor influencing the current political landscape is the position of former corporator Manoj Sangole. Considered one of the most aggressive and visible leaders from Prabhag 2, Sangole quit the Congress last year and contested the Assembly elections on a BSP ticket, directly challenging Congress leader and sitting MLA Nitin Raut. Raut ultimately won the election. Sangole has since returned to the Congress fold, but his earlier rebellion may work against him, with the party likely to deny him a ticket this time.
In the 2017 civic elections, Sangole was elected alongside Bhavna Lonare, Dinesh Yadav, and Neha Nikose, all on Congress tickets.
A Crowded Field of Aspirants and Party Strategies
The Scheduled Caste voter base has traditionally played a decisive role in Prabhag 2 and has largely supported Congress candidates. While Sangole's rebellion was initially seen as a potential blow to the Congress during the recent Assembly polls, his failure to secure a substantial vote share ensured Nitin Raut's comfortable victory, limiting long-term damage for the party.
With the long gap since the last civic polls, political alignments have shifted, and the number of aspirants has swelled. Former corporators Dinesh Yadav, Neha Nikose, and Bhavna Lonare are once again seeking Congress nominations. Other hopefuls within the Congress include Sahebrao Shirsat, Tushar Nandgavali, Purva Kamble, Gautami Narnaware, and Atish Pali.
The BJP, which has so far failed to make a significant electoral impact in this Prabhag, has intensified its efforts to improve its performance. BJP aspirants include Vibha Thaware, Dilip Gaur, Lata Yerkhede, Surendra Singh Yadav, and Golu Yadav.
The BSP, known for finalizing its candidates close to the elections, maintains its characteristic uncertainty this year. Given the strong Scheduled Caste presence, several Ambedkarite and allied parties — including the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, Bahujan Republican Socialist Party, Republican Federation, along with Shiv Sena and the NCP — are also expected to field candidates, potentially splintering votes and turning the contest multi-cornered.
Civic Grievances Take Center Stage
Beyond political maneuvering, local civic issues are likely to dominate voter sentiment and could be a decisive factor. Several Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) layouts remain underdeveloped despite residents having paid development charges. Areas such as Sahyog Nagar, Angulimal Nagar, Kamgar Nagar, Tarkeshwar Nagar, and Swami Nagar continue to suffer from a lack of basic amenities.
Residents of New Mhada Colony frequently complain of contaminated and muddy water supply, an issue that has triggered repeated protests but remains unresolved. Adding to the public discontent are sewage problems near the Pili river and the absence of a proper access road to New Mhada Colony.
As campaigning gains momentum, the 72,460 voters of Prabhag 2 (35,689 Men, 36,766 Women, 5 Others) are hoping that the corporators elected this time will finally address these long-pending grievances. The four seats up for grabs are categorized as: A (Scheduled Caste - Women), B (OBC), C (General - Women), and D (General).
