The long-delayed elections to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) have finally been announced, setting the stage for a high-stakes political contest in the city. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has ruled the civic body since 2007, is eyeing a fourth consecutive term and has set a target of winning 120 seats. The Congress, on the other hand, is attempting to regroup and challenge the BJP’s dominance by consolidating its traditional voter base.
In the 2017 NMC elections, the BJP swept the polls by winning 108 of the 151 seats, securing absolute control of the corporation. Congress managed only 29 seats, while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won 10. The Shiv Sena secured two seats, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and one independent candidate won one seat each. After 2022, repeated delays led to the civic body being run under administrator rule.
Since the last civic polls, Nagpur has seen two Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, both of which largely favoured the BJP. However, Congress has continued to hold ground in parts of North and West Nagpur, keeping hopes of a revival alive. With the election schedule now declared, political activity has intensified. The BJP has begun its candidate selection process, while former corporators have returned to active politics after a long gap.
The election is also seen as a key test for BJP leaders Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who are expected to lead the campaign. For Congress, unity will be crucial, while the polls will also test the relevance of the BSP, Shiv Sena factions and the NCP in Nagpur.
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