In a significant development on the eve of a major political rally, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate for the upcoming Sangli Miraj Kupwad Municipal Corporation elections was among eight individuals externed from Sangli and Kolhapur districts for one year. The order was passed on Thursday, just a day before NCP president Ajit Pawar was scheduled to address a rally in Miraj to campaign for party candidates.
The Externment Order and Its Timing
The externment action targets NCP candidate Azam Kazi, who is the son of former corporator Raziya Kazi. According to the police proposal, Kazi, along with his relatives, is alleged to form the ‘Kazi Gang’ and has been booked in cases including attempt to murder. Citing a potential threat to law and order, authorities prepared the proposal to extern them from the two districts for a year.
Sangli superintendent of police Sandip Ghuge confirmed the action was taken based on this proposal. He emphasized that the move should not be linked to the impending elections. "I took action within my jurisdiction. It should not be seen in the light of the upcoming election. The proceedings had been pending for more than two months," Ghuge stated.
Political Reactions and Allegations
However, NCP functionaries in Sangli have strongly contested the police's stance, labeling the externment as a politically motivated act aimed at undermining their campaign. Padmakar Jagdale, the NCP's Sangli city president, pointed directly to the timing of the order. "The timing says it all. Our chief is going to address a rally on Friday for our candidates. Now, people of the town will strongly come out and help our candidates win, as most of them believe the action is unjust and politically motivated," Jagdale alleged.
This incident highlights the charged atmosphere surrounding the civic polls. The NCP, under Ajit Pawar, has fielded 33 candidates, primarily in the Miraj and Kupwad areas, without entering into a formal alliance with its other Mahayuti partners at the local level.
Implications for the Municipal Corporation Polls
Despite the controversy, NCP leaders from Sangli expressed confidence in their electoral prospects. They claimed that the results would be such that neither the ruling Mahayuti nor the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi would be able to govern the municipal corporation without the NCP's support. This assertion underscores the party's belief in its pivotal role in the region's political landscape, even as it faces challenges like the externment of its candidate.
The externment of Azam Kazi, a day before a high-profile rally by party chief Ajit Pawar, has undoubtedly added a new layer of tension to an already competitive election scenario in the Sangli Miraj Kupwad region.
