BJP wrests control of Nanded Waghala civic body after 28 years, Kavita Mule elected mayor

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: BJP on Tuesday secured the posts of mayor and deputy mayor in the Nanded Waghala Municipal Corporation for the first time since the civic body was constituted in 1997, ending nearly three decades of Congress dominance. BJP corporator Kavita Santosh Mule was elected mayor, while party colleague Deepak Singh Rawat became deputy mayor during a special general body meeting of the corporation.BJP's victory was backed by a clear numerical advantage in the 81-member House. Both Mule and Rawat secured 50 votes each, ahead of Congress and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi alliance, which got 15 votes. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) secured 14 votes, while NCP remained neutral during the election, which further eased BJP's path to power.Since the formation of the Nanded Waghala Municipal Corporation (NWMC) following the merger of Nanded and Waghala municipal councils in 1996, Congress had held control in all terms except the first, when Shiv Sena held the mayor's post. BJP, until now, either remained out of power or played a marginal role in the corporation.BJP's surge in the civic body is widely attributed to the political realignment led by Rajya Sabha MP and former chief minister Ashok Chavan, who quit Congress to join BJP along with several supporters. In the municipal elections, BJP secured 45 of the 81 seats, up from six seats in the previous House. After Chavan's switch, 45 sitting corporators joined BJP, of whom 40 were fielded as candidates, and 32 emerged victorious.Speaking earlier, Chavan said development remains the central plank of his politics. He said the mandate reflects public support for development works and administrative reforms, adding that Nanded voters have consistently endorsed his development-focused approach.Newly elected mayor Mule, a teacher by profession, assumes office when the civic body faces challenges related to infrastructure development, urban services and financial management. Deputy mayor Rawat is expected to play a key role in coordinating between the ruling party and the civic administration.Senior BJP politicians congratulated the new office-bearers and said the party would focus on transparent and efficient governance, with priority given to infrastructure upgrades, sanitation, drainage and basic civic services. Opposition politicians accepted the verdict, but said they would continue to raise civic issues in the general body.