BJP to Elect First Mayor in Nanded Municipal Corporation After 40 Years

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will make history in Nanded, Maharashtra, by electing its first mayor in the Nanded Municipal Corporation (NMC) on February 10, 2026. This marks a significant achievement for the party, which has been striving for this position for over four decades.

Nanded Waghala City Municipal Corporation (NWCMC) was established in 1996, and the first mayor of the corporation was from the Shiv Sena party in 1997. Following this, the Congress party ruled the corporation for the next 24 years, maintaining a stronghold over the municipal affairs of Nanded.

Before the formation of the Nanded Municipal Corporation, BJP’s Ramrao Chaudhary served as the mayor of Mudkhed city for a considerable period. Although Chaudhary is no longer affiliated with the BJP, he holds the distinction of being the party’s first mayor in the state, a position he held through the Mudkhed municipal council in 1985.

Between 1997 and 2017, the BJP contested five corporation elections but failed to secure a significant number of seats. The party did not manage to secure a mayor for Nanded during this period. However, 2026 has proven to be a year of fortune for the BJP in Nanded. Prior to the corporation elections, BJP city presidents were elected at three different places in Nanded, indicating a strong political momentum for the party.

The election for the mayor and deputy mayor will take place on February 10, 2026. A special meeting chaired by District Collector Rahul Kardile will oversee the proceedings. The political landscape was momentarily affected by the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, which caused a delay of three days in the election process. However, the election activities have resumed, and political parties are actively preparing for the event.

The BJP now holds a majority in the Nanded Municipal Corporation, with 45 out of the total 81 corporators. Under the leadership of former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Chavan, the BJP has secured a commanding position in the corporation. Current discussions are centered around the selection of the mayor and deputy mayor. The post of mayor is reserved for a general category woman, and there are 12 eligible corporators vying for this prestigious position. This has created a challenging scenario for senior party leaders as they deliberate on the final candidate.

The election of a BJP mayor in Nanded is a testament to the party's growing influence and the changing political dynamics in the region. It represents a significant shift in the local governance structure and is likely to have long-term implications for the city's development and administration.