RSS swayamsevak becomes corporator in NMC where dad works as peon

Nagpur: In a rare and symbolic political moment, RSS swayamsevak Ganesh Charlewar was elected as a corporator in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), the very civic body where his father works as a peon and retires this year. Charlewar clinched victory from Prabhag 31A, which includes the prominent Mahal and Reshimbagh areas, after a closely fought contest. The 34-year-old contested the election on a Shiv Sena (Shinde) ticket after the seat was allotted to the party during seat-sharing negotiations with BJP. Charlewar secured 12,667 votes, defeating Congress candidate Vandana Meshram, who polled 11,747 votes. He won by a margin of around 920 votes, reflecting the intense competition in the ward. A dedicated RSS swayamsevak since the age of 6, Charlewar was actively associated with BJP at the booth level for over 22 years. Despite his long grassroots involvement, this was his first opportunity to contest a civic election. He was fielded as a youth candidate from Prabhag 31A under the Shiv Sena (Shinde) quota, marking a significant milestone in his political journey. Speaking to TOI, Charlewar said he was grateful to the BJP–Shiv Sena alliance for placing faith in him despite his modest family background. "I come from a poor family, and this opportunity means a lot to me. I was selected as a youth candidate, and I will work towards building a better Nagpur in line with the Vision 2047 goals," he said. Charlewar added that addressing civic grievances and resolving citizens' complaints would be his top priority as a corporator. His victory also drew attention for its social significance, with many seeing it as an example of grassroots workers rising through dedication and organisational backing.