OBC reservation puts 3 Shiv Sena leaders at the Centre of Ulhasnagar Mayoral race

Ulhasnagar: The announcement of OBC reservation for the post of Mayor in the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) has significantly clarified the city's political picture, with Shiv Sena firmly emerging as the frontrunner to claim the top post. Following the reservation decision, three names from Shiv Sena are being widely discussed as the strongest contenders for the mayoralty — Ashwini Nikam, Dimple Narendra Thakur, and Rajendra Chaudhary.Among these, Ashwini Nikam and Dimple Narendra Thakur are identified with the Team Omie Kalani (TOK) faction, which played a decisive role in the recent civic elections.
According to sources, under the leadership of Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, 27 candidates from Team Omie Kalani contested the elections on the Shiv Sena symbol, of which 18 emerged victorious. In view of this contribution, it is believed that Shinde may consider offering the first two-and-a-half-year mayoral term to the TOK faction as part of internal power-sharing within the party and its allies.Ashwini Nikam's name is being taken seriously due to her strong organisational backing. Her husband, Kamlesh Nikam, serves as the spokesperson of Team Omie Kalani and is regarded as one of Omie Kalani's closest confidants. He is known to have played a key role in strengthening the alliance between TOK and Shiv Sena, while also maintaining cordial relations with local Shiv Sena leaders. Ashwini Nikam herself has studied law and has actively participated in social work alongside her husband, giving her both administrative understanding and grassroots exposure.Another prominent OBC face from the TOK camp is 38-year-old Dimple Narendra Thakur. A graduate in Business Management, Dimple Thakur belongs to the Sindhi community, which holds considerable influence in Ulhasnagar, a city often described as Sindhi-dominated. She comes from a well-established political family—her father, Narendra (Kumari) Thakur, has been elected as a corporator five times. The family is credited with several notable development works in the city, including the Sindhi Bhavan and the beautification of Sapna Garden. At a time when Shiv Sena is actively trying to strengthen its connect with the Sindhi community, Dimple Thakur is being viewed as a socially and politically suitable candidate.If Shiv Sena chooses to nominate a candidate purely from its core organisational leadership, Ulhasnagar Mahanagar Pramukh Rajendra Chaudhary stands out as the strongest option. Associated with Shiv Sena for nearly 40 years, Chaudhary has been elected as a corporator for the seventh time and enjoys support across Marathi, Sindhi, and Hindi-speaking communities. His political standing is further strengthened by the fact that his wife, Rajshree Chaudhary, has previously served a two-and-a-half-year term as Mayor.In the recent civic elections, Shiv Sena contested in alliance with Team Omie Kalani, the SAI group, and the RPI at the local level, while the BJP chose to fight independently. With the support of its allies, Shiv Sena has reached the majority mark of 40 corporators, making the election of a Shiv Sena Mayor almost certain.The only suspense that remains is which of these three leaders will ultimately be chosen to lead Ulhasnagar. The decision—expected in the coming days—will not only determine the Mayor's chair but also shape the city's political narrative for the next two-and-a-half years.