Mothers and wives make up the numbers

NAGPUR: Of the 145 who got elected to the NMC, more than half – 74 – are women. But, very few of them are established names in the political field with most being either wives or mothers of outgoing corporators and political leaders who have got tickets due to the reservation. Hence, even though they are three less, the men are hardly likely to be ‘outnumbered’.
73 seats had been reserved for women under the new prabhag system. Ex-mayor Maya Iwnate created a stir by winning an open seat and giving an slight edge to women.
Wives of seven outgoing corporators have made it to the house. The victory of a few of them is also the high point of the election which was held on February 16. The results were announced on Thursday.
Harshala, wife of outgoing Congress corporator Manoj Sable, won the Gandhisagar seat defeating mayor Archana Dehankar. Vishaka, wife of outgoing BJP corporator Baba Maind, was elected unopposed from Shankar Nagar.
Among other women winners, Sarita, wife of outgoing BJP corporator Sanjay Tiwari, won from Ajni; Divya, wife of outgoing independent corporator Dipak Dhurde, was the best from Nehru Nagar; Rita, wife of outgoing BJP corporator Ashok Mule, was victorious from Sakkardara, and Dimpi, wife of outgoing Lokmanch corporator Babbi Bawa, took the top spot won from Mecosabagh. All these outgoing corporators had to field their wives as the seat was reserved for women.
Meena, mother of outgoing independent corporator Kamlesh Chaudhary, emerged victorious from Vayusena Nagar. But, he did not taste success after moving to a new ward.
Pallavi, daughter-in-law of Chandrapur MLA and BJP corportaor Nana Shamkhule, won from Khamla. Similarly, there are many women corporators who are wives or from the family of political leaders. Malu, wife of Tanaji Wanve, a Congress leader too emerged victorious.
Many of the sitting women corporators who made it again are also wives of leaders but are slowly making their own identity. Sujatha Kombade, Neeta Thakre, Alka Dalal, Pragati Patil and Harshala Jaiswal are some of them.
A few outgoing corporators failed to get their wives or mothers elected. Prominent in that list is outgoing NCP corporator Vedprakash Arya. His wife Kamala lost from Nara.
Similarly, Aarti, wife of outgoing Congress corporator Anil Waghmare, lost. And so did Amrapalli, wife of outgoing BJP corporator Rupesh Meshram.
Nirmala, mother of outgoing NCP corporator Nitish Gwalbanshi too lost.
Among the wives of prominent leaders who lost are Rajeshree, wife of Kishor Jichkar. She too contested as an independent.