The political landscape in Nashik witnessed a major surge in activity on Monday after the State Election Commission (SEC) declared the election schedule for the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) and 28 other civic bodies across Maharashtra. This announcement has formally initiated the electoral contest for urban local bodies, with Nashik poised for a high-stakes battle.
Election Schedule and Major Alliances
The voting for all 122 seats in the Nashik Municipal Corporation will be held on January 15. The counting of votes is scheduled for the very next day, January 16. This poll notification has effectively set the stage for a direct contest between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition.
Reacting swiftly to the SEC's announcement, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) confirmed its plan to contest the upcoming civic polls in North Maharashtra as part of the Mahayuti. Senior BJP leader and state minister, Girish Mahajan, informed reporters in Nashik that the alliance would jointly fight the elections in the municipal corporations of Nashik, Dhule, and Jalgaon.
Confident Claims and Past Performance
Expressing strong confidence in securing the public's mandate, Minister Mahajan stated that the Mahayuti alliance is positioned to win over 100 seats in the 122-member Nashik civic body. He emphasized the party's development record and the upcoming Kumbh Mela as key factors.
"People know that only the BJP can ensure the development of Nashik," Mahajan said. "They have seen our performance in the past, and believe that the upcoming Kumbh Mela can be successfully managed only under BJP leadership. I am confident that voters will choose the Mahayuti."
In the previous civic elections held in 2017, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 66 seats, securing a clear majority. The seat distribution from that election was:
- Shiv Sena: 35 seats
- Congress: 6 seats
- NCP: 6 seats
- Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS): 5 seats
- Independents: 3 seats
- Republican Party of India (Athawale): 1 seat
The BJP subsequently governed the civic body from 2017 until the corporation came under administrative rule ahead of these fresh polls.
Opposition Raises Concerns Over Electoral Process
Meanwhile, the opposition has voiced serious apprehensions regarding the electoral process. Akash Chhajed, the president of the Nashik City Congress Committee, highlighted unresolved issues with the voters' list.
"Objections raised by the citizens have not yet been addressed, yet the SEC has gone ahead and announced the polls. Many of its decisions appear questionable," Chhajed stated.
Despite these concerns, he asserted that his party is fully prepared for the electoral battle. "We are confident of victory. Since the Election Commission has failed to ensure justice, we will now seek justice from the people through the ballot," he added, framing the election as a quest for fairness.
The stage is now set for an intense campaign period in Nashik, with both major alliances gearing up for a crucial contest that will shape the city's administration for the next term.
