The long-awaited process to appoint chairpersons for the crucial Standing Committee and nine special committees in the municipal corporation has finally begun. The elections are scheduled to be held on April 20, while nominations will be filed on April 15. The entire city is closely watching how the ruling alliance between the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena will distribute power within the civic body. After contesting against each other in the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation elections, both parties eventually joined hands to form the government. At present, the mayor’s position is held by Ashwini Nikam from the Shinde Sena (Omi Kalani faction), while the deputy mayor’s post is with the BJP.
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However, both parties have strongly staked their claim over the highly influential Standing Committee chairperson’s post, often considered the key financial authority in the corporation. The committee consists of 16 members, with BJP and Shinde Sena holding eight members each, leading to a deadlock situation. Nomination forms for the chairperson’s post will be accepted between 3 pm and 5 pm on April 15, while the actual election will take place on Monday, April 20. On the day of the election, the presiding officer will scrutinize the nominations, followed by a 15-minute window for withdrawal of candidatures, after which voting or official declaration will take place.
The situation has become more complex due to the large number of aspirants within the Shinde Sena, creating internal competition. According to sources, to avoid conflict, there is a strong possibility that the Standing Committee chairperson’s post may go to the BJP, while most of the special committee chairperson positions could be allotted to the Shinde Sena. Since both parties are partners in power, there are indications that the election may be conducted through consensus rather than a direct vote, resulting in unopposed selections. Senior leaders from both sides are expected to hold a crucial meeting soon to finalize this arrangement.
Interestingly, smaller parties allied with the Shinde Sena, including the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, Republican Party of India, and Sai Party, may also get an opportunity, with each likely to receive one important chairperson position. Meanwhile, several corporators have already begun lobbying with senior leaders to secure key posts for themselves. The nominations filed on April 15 will play a decisive role in shaping the new power dynamics within the municipal corporation, offering a clearer picture of how authority will be distributed among the alliance partners in the coming term.