Mumbai: In a significant turn in Maharashtra’s civic politics, BJP rebel Narayan Ratan Chaudhary was elected Mayor of the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation on Friday. His victory has come as a major setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party, which lost control of the mayor’s post despite being the second-largest party in the civic body.
BJP Rebels Shift Balance of Power
Chaudhary, who contested as the nominee of the Congress-supported Bhiwandi Secular Front, secured 48 votes in the 90-member House, crossing the majority requirement of 46. His win was made possible after nine BJP corporators broke away from the party and backed the secular alliance, dramatically changing the numbers just ahead of the vote.
Last-Minute Candidate Change Triggers Revolt
The political shift followed a last-minute decision by the BJP to replace Chaudhary as its mayoral candidate and field Sneha Mehul Patil instead. The move reportedly angered Chaudhary and several party corporators, leading him and eight others to formally distance themselves from the BJP and support the Congress-led front.
Congress Calls It a Strategic Comeback
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal described Chaudhary’s election as a reflection of growing internal dissatisfaction within the BJP. He said the result showed that experienced local leaders were unwilling to accept sudden decisions imposed from above.
How the Numbers Stacked Up
In the municipal elections held on January 15, the Indian National Congress emerged as the largest party with 30 seats, while the BJP won 22 seats. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) secured 12 seats and the Samajwadi Party won six. The remaining seats went to smaller parties and independents.
Initially, Congress formed the Bhiwandi Secular Front with NCP (SP) and SP to cross the halfway mark. However, disagreements over the mayor’s post led to SP stepping away. With the support of Chaudhary and BJP rebels, the front comfortably crossed the majority mark without SP’s backing.
Chaudhary Speaks After Victory
After his election, Chaudhary said the BJP’s decision to remove him as its mayoral candidate left him with no option but to take a stand. He said the move went against assurances given to him and pushed him to return to what he described as his secular political values.
Focus Shifts to Governance
Chaudhary’s elevation is being seen as a morale booster for Congress in urban Maharashtra, especially as the party looks to regain influence in municipal corporations. Attention will now be on how the new mayor manages a coalition made up of multiple parties and independents in Bhiwandi’s politically charged civic environment.
