Focus shifts to Parbhani mayoral poll after BJP-Sena (UBT) alliance in Chandrapur

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: All eyes are now on Thursday's mayoral election in the Parbhani Municipal Corporation after BJP, with support from Shiv Sena (UBT), secured the top post in the Chandrapur civic body by defeating Congress.In the 65-member Parbhani Municipal Corporation, Sena (UBT) holds 25 seats and requires backing from Congress, which has 12 corporators, to elect its candidate as the mayor. Interestingly, state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Tuesday said the stance taken by Sena (UBT) in Chandrapur would have repercussions across Maharashtra. "Should Congress adopt a similar position in Parbhani?" he questioned.
Sena (UBT)'s Parbhani MP Sanjay Jadhav, however, expressed confidence that his party and Congress would elect the mayor together without any friction. "The developments in Chandrapur won't affect the mayoral election in Parbhani. We have a pre-poll alliance with Congress, and both parties share strong coordination at the local level. Together, we will take charge," Jadhav said.He said the mayor's position would go to Sena (UBT), while Congress would hold the deputy mayor's position.Jadhav said deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had contacted him three days before his sudden demise in a plane crash, expressing willingness to collaborate in Parbhani. "I had told him that we already had an alliance with Congress and couldn't sideline them. I suggested the possibility of a three-party arrangement, but no further discussions took place," he said. NCP has 12 corporators in the Parbhani civic body.Maharashtra Congress general secretary Jitendra Dehade said that local members in Parbhani had been authorised to take their own decisions for the mayoral election. "Whatever happened in Chandrapur is deeply unfortunate. But the Congress never betrays its allies, no matter the circumstances," he added.