Published On : Thu, Aug 28th, 2014

Datke, Pokulwar, Joshi emerge frontrunners for posts of Mayor, Dy Mayor, Ruling Party Leader

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DatkeNagpur News.

The coming September 5, also celebrated as Teachers’ Day, would create a sort of history in the annals of Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Nagpur City as well. The day will witness the crucial election to the post of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Leader of Ruling Party. And a young brigade, for the first time, could rule the roost. But before the day arrives, the atmosphere in NMC has started blowing hot and cold and guessing game has reached to its peak. Who will occupy the coveted posts? One thing is certain. A young brigade would adorn the posts if moves of the Ruling BJP are any indication and to be given credence, too. Names of Pravin Datke, Munna Pokulwar and Sandeep Joshi are in the forefront of the race for the posts of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Leader of Ruling Party respectively and the August 30 BJP Parliamentary Board meeting is likely to give its seal of approval to these names. At present, Datke is Leader of Ruling Party while Pokulwar is Leader of Independent Corporators supporting the Ruling Party. Sandeep Joshi has established himself as young and firebrand leader in BJP echelon.

It may be recalled, the tenure of present Mayor Anil Sole is coming to an end on September 5 and the election of next Mayor will be held on the same day. The NMC Administration has already sent a letter to Divisional Commissioner notifying the election process. The poll process will commence from September 1 with submission of applications by aspiring candidates for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor. BJP has decided to field the present Leader of Ruling Party Pravin Datke for Mayor’s post as he fits the bill of young, educated and able politician having clean image. The tag of Other Backward Class candidate is an added qualification for Datke. Moreover, there is no opposition to his candidature within the party. However, Datke, it appears, personally is more interested in contesting the coming Assembly elections on BJP ticket rather than becoming Mayor. His roots are in Central Nagpur and the constituency is stronghold of Halba and Muslim communities. Therefore, BJP will certainly field a candidate belonging to either of the communities. And the present MLA Vikas Kumbhare stands a good chance to be fielded by the party again. Hence Datke will have to be content with Mayor’s post and his name will certainly get the seal of approval from the party as candidate of young generation. If and only if BJP discusses other name for Mayor’s post along with Datke then it would be the name of Neeta Thakre.

On the other hand, Sandeep Joshi, who is frontrunner for the post of Leader of Ruling Party, had staked his claim for MLC candidature from Graduates Constituency but BJP reposed faith in Mayor Anil Sole and emerged triumphant, too. Now, according to sources, Sandeep Joshi staking his claim for Assembly election ticket from West Nagpur constituency. But BJP, it appears, has made up its mind to give another chance to present MLA Sudhakar Deshmukh rather than gamble on Joshi’s name. Hence, to calm down his anxiety, BJP is likely to saddle Joshi on the post of Leader of Ruling Party.

As far as Munna Pokulwar’s ascendance to Deputy Mayor’s post is concerned, BJP is more than happy to offer him the post as the party is in ‘love’ with him. The group of Independent Corporators, led by Pokulwar, has been extending its wholehearted support to the ruling party since the past two and an half years. In return, the party is likely saddle Pokulwar on the post of Deputy Mayor as fulfillment of its promise doled out to him about 7-8 months ago.

However, in the past, BJP had sidelined the young generation leaders like Dayashankar Tiwari, Sanjay Bhende and Girish Vyas and had deprived them of any plum posts of political nature in NMC. Now, it would be seen if these leaders are given any worthy chance or force them to be content with lifetime workers spreading carpets on one occasion or the other.