Confusion over future action persists as newly-elected representatives look for guidance
A huge crowd gathers at Baramati Hospital following the death of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Pic/ANI
Three Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidates were elected to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) 227-member general body on January 16. With the leadership in the NCP in immediate lurch due to the demise of Deputy Chief Minister and party chief Ajit Pawar, the newly elected representatives are now left looking to other party leaders for guidance and advice, steadfast that they have support from the party, and willing to continue supporting their party in turn.
The NCP faction led by Ajit decided to break away from the Mahayuti alliance — its partner in the BJP-ruled government in Maharashtra — and contest the BMC elections alone. Subsequently, three candidates from NCP were elected to the BMC’s general body — Ayesha Khan from ward number 96; Sayeeda Khan from ward number 168; and Bushra Nadeem Malik from ward 170. In contrast, the Mahayuti Alliance secured 118 seats in the polls.
With news of Pawar’s demise, most members from the NCP leadership, party workers, and all elected representatives decided to travel to Baramati to be there for the Pawar family, and pay their respects.
Speaking with mid-day on Wednesday afternoon, Ayesha Khan said, “I am travelling to Baramati with my family. All of us have decided to go, and there is no question otherwise. I offer my condolences to the family, and I will stand strong with my party.” When asked about how she views her future with the party, especially as an elected representative in BMC, she said, “There is no question about this.”
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Saeeda Khan remained unavailable for comment, and an aide of Bushra Khan told mid-day that she was unavailable for comment. Meanwhile, with support and grief pouring in from across party lines, a senior state leader from NCP said, “Dada is irreplaceable. This party is part of his legacy. But now is our time to grieve.”
Rakhee Jadhav, former group leader in BMC from the undivided NCP in 2017, who switched to the BJP ahead of the recent BMC elections and was elected for yet another tenure, said, “I am travelling with other party members and leaders to Baramati.
We will reach tonight (Wednesday). Even though I’m in a different party now, Dada is a figure I deeply respect.
I learnt a lot from his leadership… like punctuality, putting your people’s needs first, and how to approach work. His work ethic has left a deep mark on me. These kinds of ties transcend our day-to-day politics.”
Three
No. of NCP corporators in BMC
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