Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Attention is firmly fixed on who will be sworn in as the city’s first citizen, the 23rd mayor. On Thursday in Mumbai, the reservation for the mayoral post was announced, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar’s mayoral seat is open (general category). As soon as the reservation was declared, rapid developments began within the BJP.
The candidates contesting for the post include Sameer Rajurkar of Samarthanagar prabhag, elected for the second time as corporator, Vijay Autade of Mayur Park prabhag, and Rajgourav Wankhede of N-11 Rauza Baugh prabhag, elected for the third time.
In the municipal corporation elections, the BJP secured the highest number of seats at 57. To achieve a majority, the party needs 58 votes. The next political calculations depend on how many more corporators join the BJP bloc while registering the group with the divisional commissioner. This is the first time in the corporation’s history that a party has been brought so close to a majority by the voters; in the previous six elections, a hung situation prevailed.
For the mayoral election, the municipal corporation administration will send a letter to the divisional commissioner on Friday. The Commissioner will appoint the presiding officials, after which the civic administration will finalise the election schedule. According to municipal corporation sources, the mayoral election assembly is expected to be held in the second week of February.
The mayoral seat in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is reserved for open (general category). As soon as the reservation was announced at 12.45 pm, prospective candidates celebrated across the city, and BJP aspirants began vigorous fieldwork.
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Previous mayors from the open (general) category
Gajanan Barwal (18-04-1996 to 07-05-1997)
Sudam Sonawane (20-04-1999 to 29-04-2000)
Kishanchand Tanwani (29-04-2005 to 04-11-2006)
Vijaya Rahatkar (29-10-2007 to 28-04-2010)
Tryambak Tupe (29-04-2015 to 30-11-2016) and
Bhagwan Ghadmode (14-12-2016 to 28-10-2017)
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Party strength in the municipal corporation
BJP – 57
MIM – 33
Shinde Sena – 13
Uddhav Sena – 6
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi – 4
NCP (Sharad Pawar) – 1
Congress – 1
Total – 115
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40 BJP corporators register with the Divisional Commissioner
Out of the 57 corporators elected in the municipal corporation elections, 40 BJP corporators have registered with the divisional commissioner. According to election rules, it is mandatory to register as a party group along with the certificate issued by the election authorities. The party’s strength is recognised based on this group registration. Consequently, on Thursday, the registration of 40 corporators took place at the commissioner’s office. The remaining 17 corporators are expected to register on Friday, said BJP city president Kishor Shitole.