BJP stuck over standing panel despite resounding NMC win

Nagpur: Thirty-three days after Jan 15 Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections, the crucial 16-member standing committee and other subject panels are yet to be constituted. The BJP secured a commanding 102 of 151 seats and went on to elect its mayor and deputy mayor on Feb 6. However, the election of the powerful standing committee was abruptly dropped from the agenda of the same special general body meeting, triggering political buzz within the ruling camp.Political observers point to internal negotiations within the BJP as a key reason behind the hold-up. Despite Nagpur being the hometown of heavyweight leaders such as Union minister Nitin Gadkari, CM Devendra Fadnavis, and revenue and guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the party is yet to finalise names for various committees. Sources indicate that the post of standing committee chairman emerged as the principal bone of contention, with multiple aspirants lobbying for the influential position.
In contrast, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) already constituted its standing and subject committees, even though its mayoral election was held after Nagpur's. The swift move in Mumbai sharpened focus on the delay in Nagpur despite BJP's clear majority.The Jan 15 polls, with results being announced on Jan 16, ended nearly 4 years of bureaucratic rule after the previous elected body's term expired in March 2022. Delays in ward delimitation and reservation-related litigation stalled elections, leaving administrators in charge of the civic body. The BJP's emphatic victory — comfortably above the majority mark of 76 — was projected as a restoration of political stability in the city.On Feb 6, Neeta Thakre was elected mayor and Leela Hathibed deputy mayor, reflecting the party's numerical strength in the 151-member House. The BJP also highlighted that more than half of its corporators are women, projecting a women-led civic leadership. Though the process to elect 16 members for the standing panel was on the mayoral poll agenda, it was dropped abruptly.The delay drew sharp criticism from opposition corporators, particularly the Congress, which said the omission violated statutory norms and undermined democracy.Yet, the absence of the standing committee — NMC's financial nerve centre — raised eyebrows. The panel wields sweeping powers over budget approvals, expenditure sanctions, tenders, and oversight of major civic works. With the budget cycle approaching, the delay in constituting the committee could impact administrative decision-making.The process to nominate members to other subject committees — including fire, transport, health, estate, women and child welfare, education, and durbal ghatak (weaker sections) — is also pending. Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, alleged that the delay undermined statutory procedure and transparency.NMC's ruling party leader Narendra Borkar, however, maintained that elections to all subject committees, including the standing committee, will be held next week. "A common agenda of a special general body meeting will be issued in a couple of days," he said.