Mayoral election set to be held within the month

NAGPUR: After the all out focus on the appointment of the new state ministry in Mumbai, political circles in the city are now turning their
attention to the forthcoming election of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation mayor.

Unlike in the assembly, where the earlier chief minister continues to hold sway, the top post in NMC is going to see a change. Mayor Maya Iwnate will be replaced as she is completing her extended term next month, with the days ahead likely to witness new political developments in the 136-member civic house.

Political experts say that the mayor's post will go to an open category candidate this time. However, a lucky draw will decide whether the post goes to a male or a female candidate. If the draw of the chit favours a male candidate then senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and present ruling party leader in the civic house Prof Anil Sole is expected to be the first choice of all members, including the opposition. However, if the draw favours a female candidate then former mayor Dr Kalpana Pande, who is presently chairperson of Hanuman Nagar zone, will get preference, pandits said.

Immediately after the BJP-led Nagpur Vikas Aghadi had won the civic body elections, Halba candidate Deorao Umredkar had been elected mayor, since the post was reserved for a ST candidate at that time. However, Umredkar and eight other Halba community corporators were disqualified by the caste verification committee. Even the high court had rejected their petitions against this disqualification.

After this development, present mayor Maya Iwnate was elected as the first citizen since the BJP did not have any other corporator from the ST community candidate. Iwnate completed her tenure on September 5, however, in view of the assembly elections the state government extended her term by four months, which will end in January. The civic body has to conduct the mayor polls before that and political experts say that a new mayor will be in place by December 20.
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