Nagpur: The reservation draw for mayoral posts across Maharashtra’s 29 municipal corporations was announced on Wednesday, with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s mayoral seat reserved for the General Women category. The draw was conducted in the presence of Minister of State for Urban Development Madhuri Misal.
Representatives from major political parties attended the event, including BJP general secretary Rajesh Shirwadkar, former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar and MLA Manoj Jamsutkar from the Thackeray faction, and Anand Paranjpe from the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction).
Under the state’s 50% women’s reservation policy, 15 of the 29 municipal corporations will have women mayors this term. Nagpur’s inclusion signals the start of a new phase of women’s leadership in the city’s civic politics. Of the remaining seats, 14 have gone to the general category. Within the women’s quota, four corporations are reserved for OBC women, while nine are reserved for women from the open category.
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Voting for all 29 municipal corporations took place on January 15, followed by counting on January 16. With the mayoral reservation now announced, attention has shifted squarely to the selection process for the mayor.
Political Activity Intensifies in Nagpur
The women’s reservation for the mayor’s post has accelerated political maneuvering in Nagpur. Parties have begun internal meetings, shortlisting potential candidates, and recalibrating alliances. Both ruling and opposition camps are clearly prioritizing prominent women leaders as they prepare for the final call.
Shivani Dani’s Name Gains Traction
Amid this churn, Shivani Dani has emerged as a leading contender in local political circles. Known for her organizational experience, grassroots engagement, and visibility as a woman leader, Dani is widely seen as being ahead in the informal race—though no party has made an official announcement yet.
Dani recently secured a decisive victory from Ward No. 36, maintaining a strong lead from the first round of counting. By the final (19th) round, she won by a margin of 21,425 votes, defeating rival candidate Sanjivani Menghre, who polled 11,049 votes.
Possible Shift in Power Equations
The reservation has raised expectations of a shift in Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s power dynamics. A woman mayor is seen as potentially bringing a fresh administrative approach and renewed focus on urban development priorities.
The decision on Nagpur’s next mayor is expected in the coming days. Until then, one question dominates the city’s political conversation: Will Shivani Dani become Nagpur’s next mayor?
