The political landscape of Nagpur's Prabhag 9 is heating up, presenting a complex and strategically vital battleground for major parties ahead of the civic polls. Historically a Congress stronghold until 2012, the area witnessed a significant shift in the 2017 Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections when the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) clinched three out of four seats. Now, with the Prabhag divided between the North Nagpur and West Nagpur Assembly constituencies, the Congress senses a prime opportunity to stage a comeback.
A Three-Way Contest with Historical Baggage
The current political arithmetic favours the Congress on paper, as both Assembly segments falling under Prabhag 9 are represented by Congress MLAs. West Nagpur MLA and city Congress president Vikas Thakre, along with North Nagpur MLA Nitin Raut, wield considerable influence in the area. The Prabhag had given the Congress a lead in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, bolstering the party's confidence. Adding to the intrigue is speculation that Vikas Thakre's son, Ketan Thakre, might enter the electoral fray from this Prabhag.
However, the BSP is not ready to cede space. The party claims to have a robust cadre network in key localities like Lumbini Nagar, Gaddigodam, Khalasi Line, Bezonbagh, and Indora. BSP workers argue that while voters here support Congress in state and national elections, they tilt towards the BSP in local body polls. Capitalizing on this perceived strength, the BSP is likely to field new faces this time. Despite their past electoral success, residents have voiced complaints about unfulfilled development promises, which could be a chink in the party's armour.
BJP's Organisational Push and a Surge of Aspirants
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), though not traditionally dominant in this Prabhag, has intensified its preparations. The party has entrusted senior leaders with organisational responsibilities, focusing on strengthening its ground-level network. This concerted effort has resulted in a large number of ticket aspirants from the BJP, significantly outnumbering those from the Congress and BSP. BJP workers have been maintaining regular contact with residents, aiming to build a connection beyond election cycles.
The demographic profile of Prabhag 9 adds another layer to its political complexity. The area has close to 55,000 voters, with nearly 50% belonging to the Scheduled Castes. Muslim and Christian voters together constitute a bloc of around 8,000. This composition makes the Prabhag a critical test for parties' outreach strategies.
The Long List of Hopefuls
The high stakes have led to a surge of aspirants across all major parties. From the BSP, names in contention include Sanjay Burrewar, Mamta Sahare, Narendra Walde, Raju Sahare, Alka Burrewar, and Vinil Chaurasia, among others. The Congress's hopefuls are Sneha Nikose, Vivek Nikose, Abhishek Usare, Chandrakant Wasnik, and Sapna Ghate.
The BJP's list is the most extensive, featuring aspirants like Manorama Jaiswal, Deepak Arora, Navneetsingh Tuli, Manjit Thakur, Dinesh Sahu, Ankush Sahani, and Mohammed Farukh. The final candidate selections will be crucial, as they will need to navigate the Prabhag's unique split between two Assembly constituencies and effectively coordinate campaigning with the sitting MLAs.
As Nagpur moves closer to its civic polls, Prabhag 9 stands out as a microcosm of larger political shifts. The Congress's bid for revival, the BSP's fight to retain its local body dominance, and the BJP's attempt to expand its footprint through organisation will all be put to the test. The outcome here will not only decide local representation but also signal the evolving political equations in a key urban centre of Maharashtra.
