Alliance with Sena UBT, BJP to take mayor’s post in Chandrapur amid Cong infighting

BJP MLA Kishor Jorgewar on Tuesday clarified that the mayor’s post in Chandrapur will be equally shared between the BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) for a period of two-and-a-half years. According to the agreed formula, BJP will hold the mayor’s post for the first half, followed by Shiv Sena (UBT) for the remaining term.

Jorgewar said a whip was issued in the name of Sangita Rajendra Khandekar for the mayor’s post as part of the alliance. He added that during the latter half of the term, the mayor’s post as well as the Standing Committee chairperson’s post will remain with Shiv Sena (UBT).

“Shiv Sena (UBT) had demanded the mayor’s post first. However, despite having a strength, it did not seem appropriate to hand over the first mayor’s term to them. Even Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders later agreed that from Chandrapur’s development perspective, BJP is capable of ensuring development,” Jorgewar said. He also said that Prashant Danao of Shiv Sena (UBT) will be appointed as Deputy Mayor.

Shiv Sena Chandrapur leader Sandip Girhe said the party’s initial position was that Shiv Sena (UBT) should get the mayor’s post. Discussions were held within the party and with the Congress, and Wadettiwar was approached. However, Girhe alleged that Congress was not ready to offer the mayor’s post even once during the full term.

“After discussions with BJP leaders Sudhir Mungantiwar and Kishor Jorgewar, a formula was finalised. As per this, the BJP will hold the mayor’s post for the first half — one year and three months, Shiv Sena (UBT) for the next half of equal period, while the deputy mayor’s post and Standing Committee chairperson’s post will remain with Shiv Sena (UBT) in the first term,” Girhe said.

“Party leaders told us to focus on how justice could be done to the party workers. Our insistence was that we should support the Congress, but Pratibha Dhanorkar refused to form an alliance. We approached the Congress repeatedly, but they rejected the proposal. We kept our party leadership informed at every stage and even met (Harshavardhan) Sapkal saheb but they did not take us seriously,” Girhe said.

“I held discussions with Sudhir Mungantiwar over the phone, and conveyed the decision to the senior leadership. I was in constant touch with Varun Sardesai, and Uddhav Thackeray saheb was also informed. He told us to protect the party and protect the workers,” he added.

On the possibility of disciplinary action, he said, “I have not done anything for personal gain. I had an offer to join the BJP, but I remained loyal. I trust my party leadership and believe they will not take any unfair action against me. I trust Uddhav saheb.” He added that after one year and three months, the mayor will be elected under the Shiv Sena (UBT) symbol.

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said the magic number required for a majority in the civic body was 34. He claimed that when three additional corporators were required, Congress agreed to offer Shiv Sena UBT the deputy mayor and standing committee chairperson posts. However, he said Sena (UBT) informed them it had received a better offer from the BJP and walked out of talks.

In the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation elections, Congress won 27 seats out of 66, while BJP won 23. Shiv Sena (UBT) obtained 6 seats, Bharatiya Shetkari Kamghar Paksh (backed by Congress) won 3, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi 2, AIMIM 1, BSP 1, Shiv Sena (Shinde group) 1, and independents 2.

Sudhir Mungantiwar said he was happy that the mayor belonged to the BJP and that Sena (UBT)’s support was aimed at accelerating Chandrapur’s development. He said, “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Ravindra Chavan, the BJP’s aim was to establish itself in Chandrapur for development-oriented governance.”

On the unusual alliance, he said, “It is a matter of joy that the development-centric philosophy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Devendra Fadnavis, ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ has been implemented in Chandrapur.”

Mungantiwar argued that Congress too did not have a clear majority. While Congress had 27 corporators and BJP (alliance) had 24, he said Congress created an impression that it had the people’s mandate. He added that internal factionalism within Congress was so intense that it seemed unlikely they could have run the administration effectively.

BJP mayoral candidate Sangita Khandekar won by a margin of just one vote, with two corporators of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi remaining absent during the crucial developments.