BJP’s Tejwani, YSP’s Sachin Bhende are Amravati mayor, dy mayor

Amravati: The four-year-old administrator's rule in Amravati Municipal Corporation came to an end on Friday with Mahayuti candidates Shreechand Laxmandas Tejwani (BJP) and Sachin Onkarrao Bhende (Yuva Swabhiman Party) winning the mayor and deputy mayor elections respectively. Tejwani and first-time corporator Bhende are now the 17th mayor and deputy mayor of the city.Both Tejwani and Bhende polled 55 votes each, one more than the Mahayuti's collective strength of 54. Meera Kamble, an AIMIM corporator from Old City, Badnera prabhag, also voted for Mahayuti candidates ignoring the party's stand to stay neutral. "I voted for development. There was no whip from the party leader. I am ready to fight any action taken," she told media persons later.
AIMIM group leader said that Kamble's matter will be reported to party higher-ups for suitable action. "BJP and AIMIM are two shores which can never meet," he said. AIMIM, with 12 members in the house, had decided to stay neutral, like VBA, and Shiv Sena (UBT), which has two members in the House. One of them also voted for Congress' mayoral candidates, defying the party stand.The special general meeting was held in Vishwaratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar auditorium of AMC with collector Ashish Yerekar in chair and AMC commissioner Saumya Sharma Chandak on dais. Congress fielded professor Sanjay Shirbhate while Ismail Qasam Laluwale was BSP's candidate for the mayor's post. Lubna Tanveer Sayyad Makhdoom and Sachin Kisan Vaidya were the deputy mayor choice for Congress and BSP, respectively. With all 87-elected members present in the House, voting was held by raising hands. Congress candidates polled 16 votes each and BSP candidates polled 3 votes each. Thirteen corporators stayed neutral, including 11 of AIMIM, one each of VBA and Shiv Sena (UBT).Collector Yerekar declared Shreechand Tejwani and Sachin Bhende elected as mayor and deputy mayor respectively. BJP and YSP supporters took out separate processions in the city, bursting crackers and spraying gulal. MLA Ravi Rana kept his pre-election promise of ensuring BJP win in mayoral polls. "Now, under Tejwani's leadership, AMC House will work in the direction of providing a transparent governance for city's development," he said.BOX:Congress demands Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's Portrait at centre of assembly hallAmravati: Congress leaders Bablu Shekhawat and Vilas Ingole demanded that Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's portrait be placed at the centre of the assembly hall in Amravati Municipal Corporation. Currently, the portrait is placed in a corner, which they consider disrespectful. They warned that if the demand isn't met, they will stall the assembly proceedings. The demand was made during a special general meeting for the mayor and deputy mayor elections.