AIMIM’s Lone NMC Nomination In A Fix Over Jichkar’s Entry Bid?

Nagpur: Internal rift within All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) derailed its lone nominated corporator seat in Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Wednesday, even as BJP and Congress finalised their nominees smoothly. AIMIM state president Imtiyaz Jaleel announced Fahim Ansari as party's official nominee but ex-Congress functionary Narendra Jichkar has emerged as another candidate allegedly backed by local AIMIM leaders. Jichkar reportedly attempted to submit his nomination along with AIMIM corporator and party leader Shakil Patel, but party workers created a ruckus and prevented municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar from accepting his form. By evening, the civic body confirmed receipt of only nine nominations — seven from BJP and its ally Shiv Sena, and two from Congress."My name was declared by the state president, but leaders tried to change it at last moment. I was misled while efforts were made to submit someone else's form," Ansari said, alleging monetary influence in the process. Jichkar later told TOI, "I had gone to NMC for some work and stayed there for some time. The report that I was going to be an AIMIM candidate is completely baseless."Patel said that the party's official candidate was finalised around 2.30pm. He claimed that Ansari's nomination form had not been filled properly, which is why it could not be submitted. Patel clarified there was no question of party nominating any other candidate.Lack of consensus within AIMIM and its coordination with the Indian Union Muslim League backed Muslim Bahujan Vikas Aghadi has stalled their quota seat. The fallout is likely to impact their chances of staking claim to "mini mayor" post in Ashi Nagar, with zonal elections beginning Thursday and voting scheduled for Friday. Neither BJP nor Congress nominated any women, opting to field younger faces, reversing the usual trend of appointing senior leaders as nominated corporators. BJP city president Dayashankar Tiwari announced 7 nominees, ensuring representation across all Assembly segments. The party selected Devendra Meher, Vinod Baghel, Sanjay Thakre, Jitu Thakur, Ritesh Gawande and Subodh Acharya, while allocating 1 seat to Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), which nominated Suraj Goje. Congress finalised Ketan Thakre, son of city president Vikas Thakre, and businessman Atul Kotecha though the party faced internal protests over the nominations. Per House strength, BJP (102 corporators) gets 7 nominated seats, Congress (34) 2, and AIMIM (6) 1. With rifts surfacing, AIMIM's lone seat remains uncertain, weakening its bargaining power.