Nashik Sena chief held for vandalism

NASHIK, MARCH 16: Nashik District Sena president Vinayak Pande, and four others were arrested on Sunday in connection with vandalism duri...

NASHIK, MARCH 16: Nashik District Sena president Vinayak Pande, and four others were arrested on Sunday in connection with vandalism during the election of the chairperson of the local Taluka Panchayat Samiti.

Pande and his supporters allegedly assaulted Congress nominee Rajaram Dhanavate, pelted stones at his car, assaulted the driver and tried to prevent him from attending the meeting of the samiti last Sunday, according to police sources.

The Samiti has ten members, five belonging to the Sena, three to the Congress and two Independents. The Sena had control over the samiti, supported by an independent. On Sunday, the Congress wooed the two independents on its side and fielded Dhanavate for the chairperson’s poll. The Shiv Sainiks were annoyed with the development as both the sides had five members each.

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When they saw one of the Independents, Shobha Malode, alighting from the car of Dhanavate, the Shiv Sainiks led by Pande allegedly pelted stones and tried to prevent them from participating in thepoll. The riot led to a lathicharge by the police.

Dhanvat has lodged a complaint with the Sarkarwada police, accusing Pande and four others of assaulting them. The five were arrested and later released on bail.

MAYORAL ELECTION: Hectic lobbying has begun in the Nashik Municipal Corporation for the Mayoral election scheduled on March 20. On the last day of filing nominations today, nine corporators filed their papers.

Those who have filed their nominations are Lanka Hagawane, Hemlata Patil, Vandana Manchanda, M Shobha Bacchav (all Congress); Devyani Pharande, Kamal Vidhate, Surekha Bhamre (all BJP), Surekha Bhosale (Shiv Sena) and Lata Baviskar (Independent). The Mayoral chair is reserved for women this year.

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The NMC has 87 elected members. The partywise strength is Congress 32; Shiv Sena 21; BJP 16, Independents 15; RPI 2; and CPM 1. The outgoing Mayor, Ashok Dive, belongs to the RPI who was elected as Mayor last year by the Sena-BJP alliance. This year, the Congress intends to wrest theMayoralty from the Sena-BJP with support from independents.

As a strategic move, the Congress had supported the candidature of an independent, Amol Jadhav for the chairmanship of the civic Standing Committee. Jadhav was elected chairman of the committee on Monday. The committee comprises six Congress members, six belonging to the Sena-BJP alliance and four independents. In return, the Congress is expecting the support of the 15 independents in the House for its mayoral nominee.