150 BJP candidates aspire for nomination to five co-opted member seats

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

In the municipal corporation elections, the BJP has won a maximum of 57 seats. The party can nominate five individuals as co-opted members in the corporation. To facilitate this, the BJP has launched a campaign to collect biodata from interested candidates. The party has promised opportunities as co-opted members to 76 individuals who were not fielded as candidates in the municipal elections. Biodata is being collected from all these individuals as well as office-bearers from various party fronts.

So far, biodata from 150 individuals has been submitted to the party. For one seat, there is competition among 30 candidates, and aspirants are actively lobbying for the opportunity. From the submitted biodata, five candidates are expected to be selected, while the remaining may have to reconcile with the party regarding their disappointment.

There are specific rules for becoming a co-opted member. Candidates must meet these criteria to be eligible. To satisfy the requirement of being a member of a voluntary organisation, many aspirants are currently submitting ‘change reports’ at charitable offices. Several have attached letters confirming long-term involvement with various trusts along with their biodata.

Based on strength, BJP will get five seats, AIMIM three, and Shinde Sena one. If other parties consolidate for the remaining seat, one candidate may be appointed as an approved member. After the election of standing committee members and the mayor, the party office-bearers will send a letter to the administration for the selection of co-opted members. This process is expected to be completed in March. Names of all interested candidates from the local level will be forwarded to senior officials, after which a special committee will scrutinise the biodata. The committee will finalise the names, according to BJP sources.