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BJP Wins Chandrapur Mayor Post With Rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) Support

The Bharatiya Janata Party secured the Mayor's post in Chandrapur Municipal Corporation after six Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators defied their party's directive to oppose the BJP. BJP candidate Sangeeta Khandekar won by a single vote (32-31) against the Congress, which emerged as the single largest party but fell short. Local Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sandeep Girhe defended the move, citing a lack of cooperation from the Congress and a reported snub by senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar. The arrangement grants BJP the Mayor's post for 15 months before Shiv Sena (UBT) takes over, causing internal unease within the MVA alliance and potential disciplinary action.

Key Points: BJP Wins Chandrapur Mayor Post With Shiv Sena (UBT) Support

  • BJP wins Mayor post by one vote
  • Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators defy party leadership
  • Congress loses despite being largest party
  • Deal includes post rotation and committee chairs
3 min read

BJP wins Chandrapur Mayor post on Shiv Sena (UBT) support

BJP's Sangeeta Khandekar elected Mayor of Chandrapur after 6 Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators defy Uddhav Thackeray's orders, causing an MVA setback.

"We will not support the BJP under any circumstances... we will not help the BJP come to power. - Sanjay Raut"

Chandrapur, Feb 10

In a major political development, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday secured the Mayor's post in the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra after six corporators from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena supported the party, defying the official party line.

The election of Sangeeta Khandekar as Mayor is a setback for the Congress, which had emerged as the single largest party in the recent civic polls but fell short of the top post by just one vote.

Sources in Shiv Sena (UBT) said the Chandrapur unit decided to support the BJP due to dissatisfaction over friction and internal differences within the Congress.

The mayoral election saw a close contest. BJP nominee Sangeeta Khandekar secured 32 votes against 31 votes received by the Congress candidate. Two corporators from the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) remained absent, while the lone All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) corporator abstained.

The effective majority mark came down due to the AIMIM abstention and VBA absence, helping the BJP secure the win.

The victory came after six Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators went against clear directions from the party leadership to oppose the BJP.

Just an hour before the vote, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut had addressed a press conference in Mumbai and said party chief Uddhav Thackeray had instructed members to sit in the opposition instead of supporting the BJP.

"We will not support the BJP under any circumstances. Even if we have to sit in the Opposition, we will do so, but we will not help the BJP come to power," Raut had said.

However, local leaders in Chandrapur went ahead with the decision to back the BJP. Sandeep Girhe, district chief of the Thackeray faction, defended the move and cited a lack of cooperation from the Congress.

Speaking to reporters, Girhe said the decision to support the BJP was taken with development in mind and due to what he described as a snub by senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar. According to Girhe, the Congress had refused to share the Mayor's post during the five-year term.

Under the reported arrangement, the BJP will hold the Mayor's post for the first 15 months, after which Shiv Sena (UBT) will take over. Shiv Sena (UBT) will hold the Deputy Mayor's post for the full five-year term and will chair the Standing Committee in the first and fourth years.

The development has caused unease within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. Sources said the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership is considering disciplinary action against Sandeep Girhe and the six corporators for anti-party activities and for not informing the leadership about local-level negotiations.

The current strength of the 66-member Chandrapur Municipal Corporation is Congress 27, BJP 23, Shiv Sena (UBT) 6, Jan Vikas Sena 3, VBA 2, AIMIM 1, Independents 2, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) 1, and BSP 1.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Very disappointing to see such cross-voting. What is the point of a coalition if local units can just defy the high command? Uddhav Thackeray needs to take strict action, otherwise this will keep happening. The Congress also needs to get its house in order.
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Aman W
Smart move by the local Sena corporators! Why should they support Congress just for the sake of opposition? If Congress was being arrogant and not sharing power, it's better to go with BJP for stable governance. Chandrapur needs development, not political drama.
R
Rebecca D
The numbers game is fascinating. Just one vote decided it, and the absence of VBA/AIMIM helped BJP. Shows every single corporator's vote is so powerful. Hope the new mayor focuses on civic issues like water and roads now.
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Karthik V
This is pure opportunism. The Sena (UBT) leaders in Mumbai give statements, but on the ground, it's a different story. The reported deal (15 months mayor, deputy for 5 years) shows it was a calculated trade, not about principles. Public trust is broken again.
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Nisha Z
As a resident of Maharashtra, I'm tired of this constant political instability. First the split in Shiv Sena, now this. Just let the corporation function properly. Who is mayor matters less than whether my garbage gets collected on time. 🙏

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