Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as the largest party in the municipal corporation with 57 corporators, it will be able to send five co-opted members to the civic body. However, the final selection will be made only after the state president’s team reviews the aspirants and submits its report.
Although the party has launched a drive to collect biodata from interested candidates, the path to becoming a co-opted member will be cleared only after the review by the state leadership’s team.
Sources said the party is trying to avoid factionalism while selecting the candidates. Therefore, a co-opted member will not be chosen from wards that already have an elected corporator. Instead, preference may be given to individuals who could not contest elections but have a strong social work background and can contribute to the party’s activities.
So far, around 250 aspirants have submitted applications to the party. Many of them had sought party tickets in the municipal elections but could not secure nominations. Meanwhile, the municipal corporation has also invited applications from interested candidates for the co-opted member posts from March 18.
Within the BJP, nearly 50 aspirants are actively competing for the limited seats and are approaching senior leaders to secure an opportunity.
Based on numerical strength in the corporation, the BJP is expected to get five co-opted members, while AIMIM may get three seats and Shiv Sena one seat. If other parties unite, one additional co-opted member seat could go to them collectively.
Decision after Assembly session
City BJP president Kishor Shitole said the final decision on co-opted members will be taken after the legislative session concludes. After receiving applications, the party’s core committee and senior leaders will finalise the names and communicate them to the municipal authorities.
Co-opted members in Zilla Parishad after 34 years
The process of appointing co-opted members in the Zilla Parishad is also likely to resume after 34 years. The practice had been discontinued after 1992, but in October 2025, the state revenue minister wrote to the chief minister recommending its revival.
If implemented, one co-opted member may be appointed for every ten elected members. In the district, six co-opted members are expected in the Zilla Parishad, while 12 co-opted members may be selected in Panchayat Samitis for the first time. The BJP is likely to get two seats, Shiv Sena two seats, Shiv Sena one seat, while one seat may go to other parties collectively.