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Congress launches campaign for remaining 28 municipal corporations from Nagpur, vows to take key issues across state

Harshwardhan Sapkal alleged largescale use of money power and bogus voting in municipal council elections and said that the same is happening even in corporation polls.

2 min readNagpurUpdated: Jan 7, 2026 01:57 AM IST

Congress launches campaign for remaining 28 municipal corporations from Nagpur, Nagpur, Congress, Maharashtra Congress, Mumbai news, Maharashtra news, Indian express, current affairs

“The farce staged by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its two allies included everything—from throwing money around to buying voters, to completely manipulating the system. Now, elections to 29 municipal corporations have begun, and the same script is being repeated,” Sapkal said.

The Congress has formally begun its campaign for the remaining 28 municipal corporations from Nagpur on Tuesday, party state chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said during a press conference in Nagpur on Tuesday. “We are addressing all major issues across Maharashtra,” he said.

“There is a strong possibility that Congress will once again have its mayor in Nagpur. Keeping this in mind, while standing with the voters, our district Congress president has also distributed a manifesto explaining why people should vote. Through today’s press conference, we also give an assurance that our party will work in accordance with this manifesto. It is also highly encouraging that all Congress leaders in Nagpur have come together to finalise the election strategy. I congratulate all our leaders, there was no dispute in Nagpur,” he said. Nagpur had its last Congress mayor during 2005-2007.

He alleged largescale use of money power and bogus voting in municipal council elections and said that the same is happening even in corporation polls.

He alleged that buying and selling of corporators has gone even further this time. “Pressure was exerted through the police and administration to ensure candidates were elected unopposed. Money was used extensively, and largescale withdrawals were forced illegally by the ruling party. This chain went from the Chief Minister to MLAs’ personal assistants and even relatives of ruling leaders,” Sapkal said.

He also alleged Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar of trying to get candidates elected unopposed.

On allegations of ticket distribution in Congress, “When parties form alliances, seat-sharing decisions are internal matters. We had allotted 62 seats to Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, some were returned due to lack of candidates. This is not a matter for criticism. We urge restraint in unnecessary comments. Despite differences, we hope the alliance strengthens in the future.”

Ankita Deshkar

Ankita Deshkar is a Deputy Copy Editor and a dedicated fact-checker at The Indian Express. Based in Maharashtra, she specializes in bridging the gap between technical complexity and public understanding. With a deep focus on Cyber Law, Information Technology, and Public Safety, she leads "The Safe Side" series, where she deconstructs emerging digital threats and financial scams. Ankita is also a certified trainer for the Google News Initiative (GNI) India Training Network, specializing in online verification and the fight against misinformation. She is also an AI trainer with ADiRA (AI for Digital Readiness and Advancement) Professional Background & Expertise Role: Fact-checker & Deputy Copy Editor, The Indian Express Experience: Started working in 2016 Ankita brings a unique multidisciplinary background to her journalism, combining engineering logic with mass communication expertise. Her work often intersects regional governance, wildlife conservation, and digital rights, making her a leading voice on issues affecting Central India, particularly the Vidarbha region. Key focus areas include: Fact-Checking & Verification: As a GNI-certified trainer, she conducts workshops on debunking deepfakes, verifying viral claims, and using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools. Cyber Law & IT: With postgraduate specialization in Cyber Law, she decodes the legalities of data privacy, digital fraud, and the evolving landscape of intellectual property rights. Public Safety & Health: Through her "The Safe Side" column, she provides actionable intelligence on avoiding "juice jacking," "e-SIM scams," and digital extortion. Regional Reporting: She provides on-ground coverage of high-stakes issues in Maharashtra, from Maoist surrenders in Gadchiroli to critical healthcare updates and wildlife-human conflict in Nagpur. Education & Credentials Ankita is currently pursuing her PhD in Mass Communication and Journalism, focusing on the non-verbal communication through Indian classical dance forms. Her academic foundation includes: MA in Mass Communication (RTM Nagpur University) Bachelors in Electrical Engineering (RTM Nagpur University) Post Graduate Diploma (PGTD) in Cyber Law and Information Technology Specialization in Intellectual Property Rights Recent Notable Coverage Ankita’s reportage is recognized for its investigative depth and emphasis on accountability: Cyber Security: "Lost money to a scam? Act within the 'golden hour' or risk losing it all" — A deep dive into the critical window for freezing fraudulent transactions. Public Health: "From deep coma to recovery: First fully recovered Coldrif patient discharged" — Investigating the aftermath of pharmaceutical toxins and the healthcare response. Governance & Conflict: "Gadchiroli now looks like any normal city: SP Neelotpal" — An analysis of the socio-political shift in Maoist-affected regions. Signature Beat Ankita is best known for her ability to translate "technical jargon into human stories." Whether she is explaining how AI tools like MahaCrimeOS assist the police or exposing the dire conditions of wildlife transit centres, her writing serves as a bridge between specialized knowledge and everyday safety. Contact & Follow X (Twitter): @ankita_deshkar Email: ankita.deshkar@indianexpress.com ... Read More

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