Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
In municipal elections, Prabhag 17, including support-heavy Kotla Colony, was a prestige battle for BJP.
With Minister Atul Save deploying full strength and voters’ backing, BJP won all four seats: Seema Salve (A), Anil Makriye (B), Kirti Shinde (C), and Rajurkar (D).
Vote splitting by Uddhav Balasaheb Thackrey (UBT) Sena, Shinde Sena, NCP Ajit Pawar(AP) faction, Congress(INC), Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi(VBA), and independents posed risks. Uddhav Sena’s four candidates finished second, three Shinde Sena candidates came third, and one Vanchit candidate was second. Samir Rajurkar joined last minute, with earlier nomination delays causing resentment. The party, along with NCP, worked internally, and coordinated campaigning under Harshvardhan Karad prevented losses. Kirti Shinde joined BJP at the last moment, leaving some female officials absent. Vandana Kulkarni of Uddhav Sena appeared strong but votes didn’t reflect it. Ashfaq Quraishi (Uddhav Sena) directly contested Anil Makriye, putting him in the “danger zone.”
Save’s Prestige at Stake
OBC Welfare Minister Atul Save’s endorsement of Makriye, a close friend, put his own prestige on the line. Considering polling, vote division, and religious voter dynamics, there was speculation on potential challenges for Makriye and the BJP panel.