BJP to hold sway in civic elections in Pune
Pune: The ruling BJP is preparing to hold civic elections soon. The party is trying to expedite various civic projects at the high level while it is also wooing strong leaders from the opposition. There is no movement in the opposition camp after they lost the State Assembly polls. Thus, it is clear that the BJP will dominate the upcoming civic elections in the city.
Local self-government bodies are going to elections after the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) after the State polls in 2019 and the split in the two major parties – the Shiv Sena and the NCP. Almost all municipal corporations, zilla parishads and municipal councils have the Administrator’s rule in the past 2.5 years due to the legal battle over the OBC reservations. A possibility of early local self-government bodies elections appears bright after the unprecedented victory of the ruling Maha Yuti in the State Assembly elections.
The single largest party in the State Assembly, the BJP, is upbeat about the civic elections. The party hopes to improve its tally in the civic polls after its single-handed wins in nine municipal corporations, including Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nagpur, Nashik, in 2017. It is ready to contest alone in all civic bodies. The party is trying to woo leaders from the opposition, where the latter won in the last civic elections. Moreover, it is planning to use opposition leaders, where the party’s state alliance partners may field their candidates. As a part of this strategy, five Shiv Sena (UBT) former corporators were welcomed in the BJP fold recently.
Moreover, Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol, State Minister Chandrakant Patil, State Minister Madhuri Misal, MP Medha Kulkarni, along with the party’s five MLAs, are seen following up projects such as the airport, Metro and even minor issues such as roads, drainages and water supply.
On the other hand, the BJP’s Maha Yuti partners, the NCP (AP) and the Shiv Sena (BT), have not really become active. DyCM Ajit Pawar held a lone meeting in the city after the portfolio distribution. However, nothing seems to be moving over the civic elections at their level. The Shiv Sena (BT) is conducting meetings in various assembly segments. They do not have candidates to field in every ward. After losing the CM’s post, new leaders have not joined the Shiv Sena (BT).
In the opposition camp, a handful of corporators are left. The Congress, the NCP (SP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT) do not have strong local leaders. The three parties cannot contest all seats alone. They do not even seem to be enthusiastic about their alliance after the State elections. Their workers do not know how they would take on the ruling BJP. Only a political miracle can save the MVA. This is the atmosphere in the opposition. Therefore, the BJP appears to be the strongest party at the moment in the city.
