Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The draw for reservation of the mayoral post will be held on Thursday, January 22, at the urban development department in Mumbai. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the exercise has increased the anxiety of aspirants from the BJP and Shinde Sena. If the mayoral post is reserved for the scheduled tribe (ST) category, both parties will face a serious challenge, as neither has a ST category councillor. Despite having a majority, both parties may be forced to give up the mayor’s post. Even before the draw, BJP leaders are indicating that the post may go to an OBC male or SC category woman.
In the municipal elections, the BJP won 57 seats, while the Shinde Sena secured 13. The BJP needs just one more vote to reach a majority. Although both parties contested the elections separately, there is a strong possibility of an alliance while forming the ruling body. If an alliance is formed, the two parties together will have 70 councillors, making it easy to elect candidates to the mayor and deputy mayor posts, with a possible sharing of positions over five years. The BJP also has other options if it chooses not to align with the Shinde Sena.
If, during the draw chaired by the minister of state for urban development, the mayoral post for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is reserved for the ST (male or female) category, the BJP and Shinde Sena will be cornered. From Uddhav Sena, Abdul Rashid Khan alias mamu, elected from Prabhag no. 4, belongs to the ST category and has earlier served as mayor from the same category. If the reservation is for ST women, Vijashree Jadhav, elected on an AIMIM ticket from Prabhag no. 1, may get an opportunity to serve as mayor for two-and-a-half years.