Mumbai: Just hours before the mayoral election in the Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation, a dramatic political shift has changed the entire contest. Nine councillors from the Bharatiya Janata Party have broken away from their party and announced support for a Congress-led front.
This sudden move has given the opposition alliance a clear numerical advantage in the 90-member civic house.
How the Numbers Work
To win the mayor’s post, a candidate needs at least 46 votes. In the recent civic results, no party managed to secure a simple majority.
Seat distribution stands as follows:
Congress – 30
BJP – 22
Shiv Sena – 12
NCP (SP) – 12
Samajwadi Party – 6
Konark Vikas Aghadi – 4
Bhiwandi Vikas Aghadi – 3
Independent – 1
Initially, Congress and NCP leaders were confident of crossing the majority mark with Samajwadi Party support. However, the Samajwadi Party later chose to support Shiv Sena instead, creating uncertainty.
What Changed Suddenly?
The political equation shifted when nine BJP councillors, led by Narayan Chaudhary, decided to form a separate group. They declared support for the Congress-NCP combine, often described as a “secular front.”
With these additional nine votes, the front’s total strength has reportedly reached 51 — five more than the required majority. This places them in a strong position ahead of the mayoral vote scheduled at 12 pm.
The alliance has named Narayan Chaudhary as its mayoral candidate. Meanwhile, the BJP has officially fielded Sneha Patil for the post.
Why Did the Rebellion Happen?
Sources suggest that internal dissatisfaction triggered the revolt. Narayan Chaudhary was earlier considered a possible mayoral face for the BJP. However, the party leadership eventually announced Sneha Patil as its nominee.
This decision reportedly upset a section of councillors. Sensing an opportunity, leaders from the Congress-NCP camp reached out to the dissatisfied group. An offer was made: Chaudhary would be given the mayoral ticket if he could bring enough councillors to secure victory.
He managed to convince nine members, dramatically altering the power balance. As of now, Narayan Chaudhary has not issued an official public confirmation of his candidacy; media reports describe his potential nomination based on party-level discussions.
What Happens Next?
If the voting follows current numbers, the Congress-NCP-backed front is likely to capture the mayor’s post. However, political observers note that last-minute changes cannot be ruled out in local body politics.
