Backdoor control? Sparks fly over BJP's bid to rejig zones

Nagpur: A fresh political controversy has erupted in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation general body meeting after mayor Neeta Thakre cleared a key proposal on zone-wise ward rejig without any discussion in the House, with the opposition alleging a "silent power play" by the ruling side.

The proposal, listed as subject no. 10, was approved at the end of the meeting after Thakre termed it an ‘information-cum-approval' matter and approved it with certain changes.

The revised details were neither read out nor explained in the House, triggering sharp protests from opposition corporators.

Leader of opposition Sanjay Mahakalkar immediately questioned the move and demanded to know about the changes made. The ruling side, however, told him that the details would be shared in writing by the civic administration and refused to spell the same orally in the House.

The issue has gained political significance as the proposal relates to administrative division of 38 prabhags among 10 zones after the recently concluded civic elections.

BJP , with 102 corporators in the 151-member House, wields control over eight zones. Only the Mangalwari and Ashi Nagar zones are expected to remain outside its direct control, where the Cong, AIMIM, and IUML secured a strong presence.

Oppn leaders claim that the silence over the revised proposal is linked to a possible rejig of prabhags between Dharampeth and Mangalwari zones . According to the arithmetic being discussed in the house, the BJP may shift one of its strong prabhags from Dharampeth zone and merge it with Mangalwari, while a weaker prabhag from Mangalwari — possibly prabhag 11 — could be moved to Dharampeth, sources said.

The decision could significantly alter the political balance. Dharampeth zone currently has 16 corporators, of which 15 belong to the BJP and one to Cong. If one BJP-dominated prabhag is shifted to Mangalwari, the ruling party's strength in that zone could increase by four corporators, potentially helping it wrest control of the zone and take its tally to nine out of 10 zones.

The situation in Ashi Nagar zone is also politically sensitive, with Cong having seven corporators, AIMIM three, IUML four, BJP one, and BSP one.

Opposition leaders said any reshuffle now would amount to changing the rules after the elections and warned that the issue will be strongly raised in the next general body meeting.