Journalism of Courage
After holding the mayoral post for 17 months,NCP corporator Vaishali Bankar on Monday tendered her resignation before the completion of her 30-month tenure. She made way for another party corporator,as promised by the party after the 2012 civic polls. Chanchala Kodre,Sangeet Kudale,Usha Kalamkar,Ashwini Kadam are among the leading probables for taking over the post.
I have submitted my resignation to the municipal chief as per the directions of the party. Party leaders,while announcing my name for the post of mayor last year,had declared that it was for 15 months of the 30-month term, said Bankar after handing over her resignation.
She said her transition from the kitchen to the citys first citizen was only due to NCP chief Sharad Pawars policy to empower women.
The Bankar family has been active in politics since 25 years,with Datta Bankar Vaishalis father-in-law having been a corporator for 17 years,while Sunil Bankar,her husband,has served a five-year term in the PMC.
In 1995,my father-in-law was all set to be elected as the mayor but could not be due to some reasons. However,the NCP chief rewarded the loyalty of the Bankar family by making me the mayor, she said,claiming that a lot of important development work was done during her term.
There was speculation that Bankar will vacate the mayoral chair after she completed 15 months,but it got delayed due to the bypolls. She had landed up in controversy after her family was made a part of the official tour of Korea as NGO representatives.
The NCP did not disclose the name of her successor but it has been learnt that the party is planning to give the representation keeping in mind the forthcoming Lok Sabha and assembly polls.
Kodre is representing a panel that falls in Hadapsar assembly constituency,while Kalamkar is from Vadgaonsheri. Kudale is from the area in Khadakwasla assembly segment and Baramati Lok Sabha constituency whereas Kadam is from the Parvati assembly segment.
