Ahilyanagar, Tuesday, 29 July 2025 : Preparations for the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections have begun in full swing in the taluka. As the group and group structure remain the same as before, discussions on candidature have begun between the major parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Nationalist Congress Party.
On the other hand, the Mahavikas Aghadi has also started screening aspirants, and many local leaders are preparing to enter the election fray. Due to this, the political atmosphere has heated up.
Number of aspirants
Senior leaders are in trouble as the number of aspirants in the three political parties is large. Aspirants are coming forward from the villages of every taluka, it has become a big responsibility to convince them, stop them or give them another option. For this, the reservation for the post of Sarpanch in the Gram Panchayat is being used as a compromise in some places.
Effect of reservation
Due to the recently announced reservation for the post of Gram Panchayat Sarpanch, many existing Sarpanchs and aspiring candidates have been thrown out of the fray. As OBC reservation has been made in Loni Venkanath, and reservation has been made for the general women category in Kashti and Belwandi, the existing Sarpanchs have no chance this year. Manisha Nahata (Loni Venkanath), Sajan Pachpute (Kashti) and Rishikesh Shelar (Belwandi) will not be able to contest the election due to this reservation.
Effect on the villages of influential leaders
The reservation has also been changed in the villages of some important political leaders in the taluka. As the village of Irfan Pirzade (Pedgaon), a member of former MLA Rahul Jagtap’s group, has been reserved for women, he will not be able to contest the election.
Reservation has been made for Scheduled Tribe women in the village of Wangdari, owned by Rajendra Nagwade of Nagwade Factory. Reservation for women has also been announced in places like Pimpalgaon Pise and Kolgaon, and supporters of many leaders, including Bunty alias Shivprasad Ubale, have left the fray.
Power struggle between BJP and NCP
BJP MLA Vikram Pachpute, who plays a prominent role in taluka politics, has started planning to maintain his power over the Panchayat Samiti. In response to this, the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar group) is also planning a strong strategy. Former MLA Rahul Jagtap has become active again and started efforts to unite at the local level.
New alliances and factionalism
Leaders Rajendra Nagwade, Balasaheb Nahata, Dattatray Pansare, Ghanshyam Shelar and Annasaheb Shelar have come together under the leadership of Rahul Jagtap. Their objective is clear. To gain control over the Panchayat Samiti and establish dominance over at least four groups in the Zilla Parishad.
