BJP-Shiv Sena alliance sweeps NMC ward committee polls

Nashik: The BJP–Shiv Sena alliance swept all six ward committee chairperson posts of the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC), with the candidates being elected unopposed across panels.The BJP secured five chairperson posts, while one went to Shiv Sena. The opposition — Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress — failed to win a single seat due to lack of numbers. The tenure of the chairpersons will be one year.The elections were held at the civic body's headquarters, Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, on Friday under the supervision of divisional additional commissioner Ajy More who presided over as the election officer. In Nashik West, Panchavati, Satpur and Cidco, only BJP candidates had filed nominations, as the opposition refrained from contesting owing to their inadequate strength.As a result, BJP nominees were declared elected unopposed as the chairpersons of all four ward committees — Suresh Patil from Nashik West, Rohini Pingle from Panchavati, Samadhan Deore from Satpur and Balkrishna Shirsat from Cidco.In Nashik East, BJP's Mangala Nannavare and Congress candidate Attar Naziya Zakir had filed their nominations. However, the Congress candidate withdrew within the stipulated time, paving the way for unopposed victory of Nannavare.As part of the alliance arrangement, the Nashik Road ward committee was allotted to the Shiv Sena. The party fielded Ramesh Dhongde, while the UBT initially nominated Pramila Maind. With the alliance enjoying a clear majority, Maind withdrew his nomination before the deadline. Thus, Dhongde was elected unopposed as the chairperson of Nashik Road ward committee.