Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
With the city’s attention focused on the mayoral election, divisional commissioner Jitendra Papalkar is likely to announce the election date and appoint the presiding officer on Wednesday. Once the date is announced, the municipal corporation’s secretariat section will declare the election programme. The election is expected to be held on February 7 or 8.
In the municipal corporation elections, voters brought the BJP close to a majority. The BJP won 57 seats, while 58 members are required for a clear majority. Within the next one or two days, a BJP delegation is expected to meet guardian minister Sanjay Shirsat. During this meeting, the Shinde faction will be invited to join the ruling alliance in the municipal corporation. The Shinde group has won 13 seats. The BJP is prepared to offer them the sole post of deputy mayor, while retaining the post of chairman of the standing committee for itself. Political parties have not yet announced their group leaders.
Group (Gut) registration must be done with the divisional commissioner, but this process has also not been completed by the parties. The BJP and the Shinde Sena will form separate groups. Efforts are underway to form a group of 12 members comprising Uddhav Sena (6), Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (4), Congress (1) and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) (1). With a 12-member group, one member would be nominated to the standing committee every year, and there would also be one co-opted member. However, sources said that VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar has not yet given his approval to this process.
Minimum 7-days notice
As the divisional commissioner was on leave on Tuesday, the municipal corporation could not obtain the mayoral election date. The date and the name of the presiding officer are expected to be announced on Wednesday. Following this, the municipal corporation will issue a mandatory seven-day notice. Dates for the distribution and submission of nomination forms for candidates aspiring to the mayoral post will also be announced.