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Time of India

Former Corporators Ramp Up Public Outreach In Build-Up To Civic Polls

1 2 3 Nagpur: With civic election procedures gaining momentum, former corporators across the city have become increasingly active in reconnecting with their wards and addressing unresolved civic issues, filling the vacuum created by over three years under the civic administration. Already, the senior rung of leaders in the BJP camp, including CM Devendra Fadnavis, Union minister Nitin Gadkari, and even guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, have started holding Janta Darbars. In Prabhag 26, senior BJP leader and former corporator Dharmapal Meshram recently conducted a detailed review of persistent civic problems. Acting on a slew of complaints from residents, particularly dysfunctional street lights and domestic electricity issues, Meshram held meetings with officials from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). Meshram called a joint meeting involving Mahavitaran officials, party workers, and citizens to address household power issues. He also instructed the electrical department to immediately repair defunct street lights and install new ones where necessary to restore street illumination in the area. With their party in power in the state, former corpoators from the BJP are also ensuring that NMC officials remain present in their wards to address the issue of civic amenities raised by the citizens. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Meshram pressed executive engineers from NMC's electric, NMC's PWD, and even MSEDCL officials to sort out issues of residents. Meshram is not alone. Vijay aka Pintu Zalke, another former corporator, has also intensified his public outreach. Like others, he has been trying to fill the political void left by the dissolution of the NMC's general body in March 2022 which led to bureaucratic governance without elected representation. With polls likely in the coming months, Zalke and others have begun directly engaging with citizens, addressing grievances, and reviving their grassroots presence. Former BJP city chief Jitendra Kukde, too, has returned to active fieldwork in his former ward. "As I was busy with both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections after being appointed city president, I missed regular interactions with people of my Prabhag," said Kukde, who was later replaced by Dayashankar Tiwari. Now out of party office, Kukde is back on the ground, attempting to rebuild his image and rapport with voters. Several ex-corporators have also reopened their contact offices to directly receive complaints. Former women corporators from opposition camps like Sneha Nikose and Shakshi Raut have become proactive, addressing issues like sewer blockages, irregular garbage collection, low water pressure, and damaged public infrastructure. These efforts come as citizens grow increasingly frustrated with the lukewarm response of the civic officials. With many wards still plagued by basic issues — ranging from faulty street lights and choked drains to uncollected garbage — former corporators are leveraging this discontent to re-establish their political relevance. The surge in activity suggests that while the municipal body remains under administrative control, the unofficial race for the civic body's 151 seats has already begun on the ground.