Fresh Tussle in Pimpri-Chinchwad BJP Over Nominated Corporator Appointments
- Lobbying intensifies for seven seats; Sachin Kalbhor’s name gains traction ahead of August 20 General Body meeting
Pimpri : The long-pending issue of appointing nominated corporators in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has once again triggered political activity within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). With the General Body meeting scheduled for August 20, all eyes are now on whether the party will finalise names for its seven nominated corporator seats or whether the issue will be deferred yet again.
While the three nominated corporator appointments process from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) quota are reportedly complete, the BJP is yet to announce its seven nominees. The delay has intensified lobbying among aspirants and brought the party’s internal political equations into focus.
Sachin Kalbhor’s name sparks discussion
The name of BJP worker Sachin Kalbhor has emerged prominently among the possible contenders. It is being discussed that Mayor Ravi Landge and Deputy Mayor Sharmila Babar have written to the party’s senior leadership seeking Kalbhor’s appointment as a nominated corporator. Similar representations are reportedly being made to BJP state president Ravindra Chavan and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Kalbhor’s name has attracted particular political attention amid the controversy surrounding his candidature. There has reportedly been opposition from MLA Mahesh Landge to Kalbhor’s name being considered for the nominated corporator post, bringing past differences between the two into focus. The issue has once again triggered discussions within BJP circles over the political equations between Kalbhor and Mahesh Landge. Despite these differences, both continue to be associated with the BJP. Kalbhor’s candidature has therefore become a subject of renewed political discussion within the party.
Intense lobbying for seven seats
A large number of aspirants are reportedly lobbying for the seven seats allotted to the BJP. Political groups associated with MLA Mahesh Landge, MLA Shankar Jagtap, MLA Amit Gorhe, MLA Uma Khapare, Amar Sable, city BJP president Shatrughna Kate and Ashwini Jagtap, along with several senior party workers, are believed to be pushing for their preferred candidates.
Several aspirants have reportedly been meeting senior party leaders and seeking support for their candidature. Representations are said to have been made at various levels of the party leadership as contenders seek to strengthen their claims.
City BJP chief also writes to state leadership
BJP city president Shatrughna Kate is also understood to have communicated with the state leadership regarding the names of candidates being considered for the nominated corporator posts. The final list is likely to be decided in consultation with the state leadership.
The selection is expected to be politically significant as the nominated corporator appointments could influence the internal balance within the city BJP. The party leadership will therefore have to consider different political groups, social representation and regional equations while finalising the seven names.
August 20 meeting holds the key
The appointments have remained pending for several months, with the matter being deferred earlier because the BJP had not finalised its nominees. With the issue expected to come up again at the August 20 General Body meeting, political circles are keenly watching whether the party succeeds in reaching a consensus.
The key question now is whether the BJP leadership will clear the seven names and pave the way for the appointments, or whether differences over the final selection will result in another postponement.
With Sachin Kalbhor’s candidature generating fresh discussion and several groups lobbying for their preferred candidates, the nominated corporator appointments have once again emerged as an important political issue in Pimpri-Chinchwad.
