Amid intense post-poll manoeuvring in Mumbai’s civic body and an increasing fear among the Congress over the possibility of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) indirectly aiding the Bharatiya Janata Party in mayoral elections by abstaining from voting, the Congress is growing increasingly wary of shifting political equations in key municipal corporations across Maharashtra, particularly Chandrapur and Parbhani.
In Bhiwandi, the Congress is treading cautiously as it has emerged as the single largest party but remains three votes short of a majority in the municipal corporation.
On Monday, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chandrapur president Sandip Girhe said his party would align with any formation willing to offer it the mayor’s post. “I am not naming any party. But we will go with the party which is ready to give us the mayoral post,” Girhe said, hinting that even an alliance with the BJP was not being ruled out.
In Chandrapur’s 66-member civic body, the Congress has 27 corporators, followed by the BJP with 23. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has six members, while the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi has two.
Congress sources said infighting between party MLA and legislative group leader Vijay Wadettiwar and Chandrapur Lok Sabha MP Pratibha Dhanorkar has weakened the party’s position. The two leaders are said to be at odds over the choice of the mayoral candidate and committee heads, delaying alliance talks and complicating negotiations.
Former minister and Chandrapur MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar on Monday claimed that a group of Congress corporators was willing to cross over to the BJP, arguing that aligning with the BJP would bring development to the district.
Dismissing these claims, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshavardhan Sapkal said, “One should ignore the rumours. The Congress will have its mayor.”
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Similar uncertainty looms in Parbhani in the Marathwada region. In the 65-member municipal corporation, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has emerged as the single largest party with 25 seats, while its ally Congress has won 12. The BJP has also secured 12 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has won 11.
On the day the results were declared, Parbhani Lok Sabha MP Sanjay Jadhav announced that the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress would share the mayor and deputy mayor posts. However, changing political equations could still impact the existing power balance.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has sought to clarify its position. “We want to be extremely clear to say this that we will not make any move that will benefit either the BJP or Shinde led party,” said party spokesperson Harshal Pradhan.
In Bhiwandi, the 90-member municipal corporation has thrown up a fractured mandate. The Congress has won 30 seats, followed by the BJP with 22. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SP have won 12 seats each, while the Samajwadi Party has six and others seven.
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Despite its alliance with the NCP-SP, the Congress still falls three members short of a majority. In a bid to consolidate support, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal on Monday invited all newly elected Congress corporators from Bhiwandi to the party headquarters for a felicitation event.
NCP-SP MLA Jitendra Awhad told The Indian Express that his party would stand by the Congress. “We will achieve numbers and we will have our mayor in Bhiwandi,” Awhad said.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More
