The upcoming elections for the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation have become a focal point of political intrigue, with one particular electoral panel drawing intense scrutiny. Panel Number 5 has emerged as a high-stakes battleground, showcasing not just a contest between candidates but the continuation of a deep-seated political rivalry that has shaped the city's landscape for years.
A Historic Rivalry Takes Center Stage
At the heart of the contest in Panel 5 is the longstanding feud between the families of BJP leader Kumar Ailani and former influential leader Pappu Kalani. This election marks a significant first: different members from both families are facing each other directly in a municipal corporator election. The BJP has fielded Meena Ailani, a two-time corporator and wife of sitting MLA Kumar Ailani. Opposing her is Seema Kalani, the daughter of Pappu Kalani, who is making her electoral debut from this constituency.
The history between the two families is extensive. Kumar Ailani has contested elections against members of the Kalani family on five separate occasions. His record includes one victory and one defeat each against Pappu Kalani and his wife. Furthermore, in elections held last year, Kumar Ailani also secured a victory against Pappu Kalani's son, Omie Kalani. This backdrop adds a layer of intense personal and political history to the current municipal contest.
The Panel and the Prominent Candidates
Panel 5, which consists of four wards, is considered one of the most affluent residential areas in Ulhasnagar. The political dynamics here are further complicated by the alliance structure. Despite being part of the broader Mahayuti alliance at the state level, the Shiv Sena and the BJP are contesting the Ulhasnagar elections separately, making each panel's outcome crucial for local supremacy.
The BJP's slate for Panel 5 includes Meena Ailani along with Raju Jagiasi, advocate Gunjan Sadhwani, and Nand Chapru. The Shiv Sena has nominated Seema Kalani, Bhullar Maharaj, Dilip Jagiasi, and Nikita Chapru. A notable feature is that in one of the four wards, Seema Kalani is joined by Vicky Bhullar, the son of senior Shiv Sena leader and five-time former corporator Bhullar Maharaj.
Civic Issues Dominate Campaign Rhetoric
The campaign trail in Panel 5 has been dominated by debates over local infrastructure and civic amenities. While canvassing, Vicky Bhullar pointed to several persistent problems faced by residents. He highlighted a chronic water shortage, poor maintenance of public gardens, and significant parking problems in the area.
Bhullar outlined specific proposals if their panel is elected. These include redeveloping the Gol Maidan by constructing an underground parking facility with a garden on top. To tackle the water crisis, he proposed building interconnected water tanks inspired by Bhopal's model. This system would utilize borewell water, which would then be filtered and supplied to households.
Countering these claims, BJP candidate Meena Ailani presented a different picture of the panel's development. She asserted that the water problem in the area has already been resolved and that the panel has been made tanker-free. She also emphasized progress in infrastructure, stating that all internal roads within the panel have been converted to cement concrete roads.
As voters prepare to cast their ballots, the election in Ulhasnagar's Panel 5 represents more than a typical municipal contest. It is a microcosm of shifting local alliances, enduring political rivalries, and the pressing demand for tangible civic development, setting the stage for a closely watched and highly significant result.
