Political uncertainty has intensified at the Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation after allies in the ruling Mahayuti alliance filed separate nominations for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor on the last day of submissions, signalling visible cracks in the coalition at the local level.
The Congress, which has emerged as the single largest party with 30 seats in the 90 member House, has fielded Tariq Momin as its mayoral candidate. The party’s electoral strategy in Bhiwandi has been steered by Samajwadi Party leader Rais Shaikh. However, uncertainty prevails over the support of the six corporators of the SP, who are politically aligned with Shaikh’s rival Abu Asim Azmi. Their ambiguous stand has left the Congress camp short of assured numbers and added a layer of unpredictability to the contest.
Despite contesting the civic polls together, BJP and Shiv Sena have fielded separate candidates for both posts. A total of 10 nominations were filed for Mayor and seven for Deputy Mayor before Municipal Secretary Ajay Patil.
Among the prominent contenders for Mayor, apart from Tariq Momin, is Konark Vikas Aghadi chief and former Mayor Vilas Patil.
Patil was recently arrested by the Economic Offences Wing in an alleged cheating case and remanded to police custody till February 18. A Bhiwandi court granted him conditional permission to file his nomination, observing that contesting elections is a constitutional right. His wife Pratibha Patil and son Advocate Mayuresh Patil have also filed nominations.
From the Shinde Sena, Balaram Chaudhary and Suchita Mhatre are in the fray, while the BJP has nominated Narayan Ratan Chaudhary and Sneha Patil.
Former Mayor and Bhiwandi Vikas Aghadi chief Javed Dalvi has also entered the race. Narayan Ratan Chaudhary submitted two sets of nomination papers, taking the total to 10.
Story continues below this ad
For the Deputy Mayor’s post, the Shiv Sena has nominated Asmita Naik, the BJP has fielded Suhas Nakate, and the Congress has again named Tariq Momin. Javed Dalvi has filed on behalf of the Bhiwandi Vikas Aghadi, while the Samajwadi Party has nominated Arib Shaikh. Advocate Mayuresh Patil is also contesting. Dalvi submitted two sets of nomination papers, pushing the total nominations to seven.
The political arithmetic in the 90 member House has further complicated the battle. The majority mark stands at 46. The Congress holds 30 seats, the BJP 22, the NCP 12 and the Shiv Sena 12. The Samajwadi Party has six corporators, while the Konark Vikas Aghadi and Bhiwandi Vikas Aghadi have four and three seats respectively. One Independent corporator has also been elected.
In a bid to keep the BJP led alliance out of power, the Congress, NCP and Samajwadi Party formed the Bhiwandi Secular Front and proposed a power sharing formula with a Muslim Mayor and a Hindu Deputy Mayor. However, the arrangement has run into turbulence. After Samajwadi Party corporators expressed their unhappiness with supporting those deemed to be close to MLA Rais Shaikh, with allegations that he worked for defeating SP candidates.
On the other side, the BJP and Shiv Sena together command 34 corporators and are exploring support from smaller fronts to bridge the gap.
Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas:
Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai.
Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC).
Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai).
Trustworthiness & Credibility
Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence.
Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers).
Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports.
He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More
