Chandrapur Mayoral Shock: Shiv Sena (UBT) Backs BJP, Congress Slams Move as “Wrong”

Chandrapur: Political tensions escalated after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unexpectedly secured support from the Shiv Sena (UBT) in the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation mayoral election.

The BJP’s Sangeeta Khandekar was elected mayor by a narrow margin of one vote, while Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Prashant Danav became deputy mayor. Multiple candidates contested the poll, including several from Congress and UBT, but Khandekar’s victory was sealed with crucial backing from UBT.

Reacting to the development, UBT leader Sunil Prabhu said, “Supporting the BJP in the Chandrapur mayor election was a decision taken by the local leaders. Party leaders will discuss with them why they did so. We will think about how to ensure such incidents do not occur in the future or whether the decision can be reversed.” His remarks reflect internal displeasure within UBT over the move.

Congress leader Nana Patole criticised the alliance, stating, “What happened in Chandrapur was wrong. Congress did not approach UBT for an alliance. Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar went to Sonia Gandhi, which led to the formation of the MVA and Uddhav becoming Chief Minister. We do not know why they took such a decision now, but what happened was wrong.”

State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal also alleged horse-trading, accusing Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM, and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) of betrayal. “In the Chandrapur mayoral election, the BJP secured 32 votes and Congress 31. The Sena (UBT) is an ally in the MVA and the India bloc. With its six corporators, the Sena (UBT) was expected to support the Congress. But the party chose to go with the BJP. This development will have consequences in the state,” he said.

The January 15 civic polls left the council fractured. Congress emerged as the largest party with 27 seats, BJP won 23, UBT six, Janvikas Sena three, VBA two, AIMIM one, BSP one, Shiv Sena one, and two independents were elected. The unexpected support to BJP in the mayoral election has raised questions about coordination within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and could trigger discussions to prevent similar political surprises at the local level.