Chandrapur, February 12 Two days after her dramatic victory with a single vote amidst intense political drama, newly-elected Chandrapur Mayor Sangeeta Khandekar took office on Thursday evening in the presence of BJP MLA and former Maharashtra minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.
Members of the BJP, the party to which Khandekar belongs, cheered loudly as she assumed the office of Mayor at the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation (CMC) headquarters after taking oath as the city's 'first citizen' in the presence of civic commissioner Akunuri Naresh.
However, corporators close to another BJP MLA, Kishore Jorgewar, boycotted the event, claiming they were not invited, highlighting internal divisions within the BJP.
Besides Khandekar, Deputy Mayor Prashant Danav, a Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator, also took office.
Nearly a dozen BJP corporators, all supporters of MLA Jorgewar, boycotted the event. They walked out of the Mayor's office where Mungantiwar was also present.
On Tuesday, the BJP, with support from Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators, managed to install its mayor in Chandrapur despite the Congress emerging as the largest party in the January 15 civic elections.
BJP corporator Khandekar won the election by a single vote, defeating Congress candidate Vaishali Mahadule. Khandekar's victory was the result of a surprise alliance between pre-poll rivals Shiv Sena (UBT) and the BJP.
This development raised serious questions about the unity and credibility of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), where the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) are allies.
Chandrapur was one of the few municipal corporations where the Congress emerged as the largest party and was poised to secure the mayor's post.
In the elections for the 66-member CMC, the Congress won 27 seats, followed closely by the BJP with 23 seats and the Shiv Sena-UBT (6).
