Mumbai: In a sign of Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) relations further deteriorating in the state, the former sprang a surprise in Nashik by supporting a BJP rebel corporator in the election to the posts of mayor and deputy mayor. Though the BJP has a comfortable majority in the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC), the party is facing the threat of a split during the election.
Wednesday was the last day to file nominations for the two posts. In dramatic developments, Kamlesh Bodke, a BJP rebel corporator, filed nomination for both the mayor and deputy mayor’s post in the NMC. He was accompanied by Shiv Sena leaders Bhausaheb Chaudhari and former MLA Balasaheb Sanap. Another BJP rebel corporator, Sunita Pingle, also filed the nomination for the post of deputy mayor.
The NMC, ruled by the BJP, will elect its Mayor on November 22. There are 13 candidates in fray for the mayor’s post, which include Kamlesh Bodke, Ganesh Gite, Bhikubai Bagul, Dinkar Adhav, Shashikant Jadhav and Satish Kulkarni (all BJP); Ajay Boraste, Sudhakar Badgujar, Vilas Shinde and Satyabhama Gadekar (all Shiv Sena) and Rahul Dive (Congress).
The candidates in fray for the deputy mayors post are Kamlesh Bodke, Ganesh Gite, Sunita Pingle, Arun Pawar, Alka Ahire and Bhikubai Bagul (all BJP); Shahu Khaire and Hemlata Patil (Congress); Sufiyan Jeen (NCP) and Vilas Shinde (Shiv Sena).
The BJP, with 65 seats, enjoys a clear majority in the 120-member civic body, followed by the Shiv Sena (34), Congress (6), NCP (6), MNS (5), independents (3) and the RPI(A) 1.
However, after the Shiv Sena deciding to break its ties with the BJP over the feud on chief minister’s post following the Vidhan Sabha polls, the political equations in the state have changed. In the NMC, the NCP has shown its willingness to support the Shiv Sena for the mayoral election.
