Drumbeat of future corporators at Shiv Jayanti celebrations

Lokmat News Network Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

As the municipal corporation’s general elections are approaching, the political atmosphere in the city is heating up. The first public festival of the new year, marking the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Jayanti, has been convened. Among the public festivals, the Shiv Jayanti celebration is one of the most significant, and this year, it prominently featured the future corporators aspiring to contest the forthcoming municipal corporation.

As a part of the celebration, the sound of DJs from every lane and corner echoed with enthusiasm. The upcoming municipal elections are seen as a reward for the hard work of office-bearers and workers who exerted themselves in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections. As a result, the aspirants put their full strength into organising the Shiv Jayanti celebrations. A motorcycle rally was held from the lanes to Kranti Chowk, with the Mahayuti leading. Meanwhile, the Maha Vikas Aghadi, particularly the Thackeray group, organised events at Kranti Chowk.

Before the assembly elections, political parties competed in celebrating public festivals. Politics became intense during events like Dahi Handi, Ganeshotsav, and Navratri, with political activity thriving in the city. Now, with the municipal corporation elections approaching, the Shiv Jayanti celebration has brought good fortune to many of the mandals.

Competition among the festival committees

Behind the Shiv Jayanti celebrations, all political parties were strategising for the upcoming municipal corporation elections. It was observed that a competition had developed between the BJP and the Shinde Sena over the Shiv Jayanti celebrations. There were discussions about MLAs contributing to small and large Ganesh Mandals across all three constituencies in the city. Political parties and leaders supported the celebrations by providing services such as dhol pathaks, t-shirts, maha prasad, DJs for processions, and special events to attract the youth and elders alike. In the evening, there was fierce competition among the festival committee members to bring the leaders together for the celebrations at the same time.

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BJP's strong presence in 65 wards

In around 65 wards of the city, the BJP gave a significant boost to the Shiv Jayanti celebrations. Along with OBC Welfare Minister Atul Save, all leaders attended various events across the three constituencies of the city. From the morning, the city participated in the BJP's Shiv Jayanti celebrations. In this, party leaders took the initiative for organising social activities as well as processions, said the BJP’s city president, Shirish Boralkar.

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Utsav in more than 50 wards

On behalf of the Shinde Sena, Shiv Jayanti celebrations were organised in over 50 wards in the city. The party organised processions and various activities. The leaders in each ward planned and executed several programmes as part of the celebrations, said the district chief (Shinde Sena) Rajendra Janjal.

What do these numbers indicate?

Electric lighting was installed around 59 statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. According to police, 95 processions took place in the city, with five main processions. The remaining processions were held within the wards. Besides, 14 vehicle rallies and 7 torch rallies were organised. There were stages set up at 32 locations to welcome the processions and rallies. At 73 places, images of Maharaj were worshipped, and at 24 locations, cultural programmes were organised as part of the celebrations. Moreover, at 8 places, readings of Shivcharitra were held.