Nagpur,

03 Jan (HS): The picture of the candidates in the fray in 29 municipal

corporation elections are clear with the last date of withdrawal of names on

Friday. However, the outcome of the elections are still unclear with the large

scale discontent among the workers of almost all the political parties.

Senior

party leaders including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief

Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar had to intervene till the last moment to

convince the rebel candidates.

Almost 70

candidates were elected unopposed, that include 44 from BJP, 22 from Shiv Sena

(Eknath Shinde), two of NCP (Ajit Pawar), one Islamic Party and one independent

candidates.

Maha-Vikas

Aghadi (MVA) alliance of UBT, MNS, Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar) are making

all out efforts for their candidates. UBT and MNS are concentrating in Mumbai,

Thane, and some other districts.

The final

list of candidates in fray in all the 29 municipal corporations will be

published on Saturday. The campaigning will start with renewed fervour.

NAGPUR:

As many as 302 candidates withdrew from the contest leaving 992 candidates in

the fray for the 151 seats. On the last day of withdrawal of nominations 290

candidates withdrew their names.

In Nagpur

1294 were valid nominations after scrutiny. 80 nominations were rejected as

invalid on various counts. Leaders of prominent parties had tough time in convincing

the rebels to withdraw nominations.

THANE: A

total of 649 candidates in nine Prabhag remain after 269 out of 1107

nominations withdrew from the contest. The polling will be held on January 15.

The

candidates will be given election symbols on Saturday

AMRAVATI:

The picture in Amravati Municipal Corporation became clear after 161 out of 822

candidates withdrew their nominations. The 822 candidates had filed 906

nomination papers. A total 14 nominations were rejected due to different

deficiencies. None of the candidates from prominent parties withdrew their

nominations. Most of those preferred withdrawing nominations were independents

or rebel candidates. BJP had left eight seats for the Yuva Swabhiman Party.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar