Marathwada’s Nanded, Latur, Jalna & Parbhani set for Jan 15 contest

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Besides Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, municipal corporations in Nanded, Latur, Parbhani and Jalna in Marathwada have lined up for Thursday's civic polls.In Nanded, 491 candidates are in the poll fray for 81 seats. After failed talks over an alliance, BJP and Shiv Sena will be contesting independently. Sena has joined hands with NCP in the Nanded South assembly seat, as the Ajit Pawar-led party, under the leadership of MLA Pratap Patil Chikhalikar, has left no stone unturned to leave its mark. BJP is led by party MP Ashok Chavan, who single-handedly brought his party to victory during the previous election when he was in Congress. Congress and VBA joined hands in Nanded, whereas AIMIM also carried out a spirited campaign.Latur Municipal Corporation has 70 seats, for which 259 candidates have thrown their hats in the ring. The civic polls are likely to witness a direct fight between BJP and Congress, which forged an alliance with VBA. Other parties, including NCP and Shiv Sena, are also in the fray. Poll campaigning in Latur witnessed BJP state president Ravindra Chavan passing objectionable remarks against late CM Vilasrao Deshmukh. Amid calls for a Latur bandh as a mark of protest, the late CM's son and local MLA Amit Deshmukh appealed for restraint and urged people to respond through the ballot. In Parbhani, 411 candidates are in the race for 65 seats. While all Mahayuti partners are contesting separately, both factions of NCP have come together. Sena (UBT) and Congress have also joined hands in parts of the city. Multi-corner poll battles are likely in Parbhani, where the chances of no clear majority for any one party are likely.After getting the status of a municipal corporation in May 2023, Jalna will be witnessing its maiden municipal corporation polls. The municipal corporation had 65 wards, for which 454 candidates, including 154 independents, are in the fray. A straight fight between BJP and Sena is expected, even as several wards may witness multi-corner battles, with Congress, NCP and other parties flexing their muscles.