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Candidates for the rich, ignored by the loyal; Workers' revolt in Bhandara Municipal Elections
Bhandara, October 26, 2025(Special Correspondent):The political atmosphere in Bhandara city is heated. The decision to distribute candidates for the upcoming municipal elections has sparked a wave of anger among loyal party workers. Workers who have been working in the party movement for years, campaigning from house to house and supporting them in difficult times are now alleging that they are being sidelined. "Should we carry the chessboard all our lives?" The workers are expressing their regret over the party leadership. It is being expressed that the rift in the party is likely to increase due to giving priority to the rich and outside candidates and giving secondary status to grassroots workers.
The major political parties have announced the list of candidates for the Bhandara Municipal Elections, and most of the candidates in this list are rich businessmen, outside leaders or people who have recently joined the party. However, local workers do not appear in this list. This allocation was made by the local leadership of the party, and high-level instructions from Delhi-Mumbai are said to be behind this decision. Although this displeasure has spread among major parties like BJP, Congress and NCP, it is most intense in BJP. Bhandara is an important political center in Vidarbha, and the municipal elections here are considered an indicator for the assembly elections.
Background: Political identity of Bhandara
Bhandara district is a rich agricultural region in Vidarbha, and the municipality here plays an important role in the development of the city. In the last few years, the city has had many problems with basic facilities like water supply, roads and drainage. In this context, the upcoming elections have become important for the parties. Although the BJP currently has a majority in the municipality, it faces a strong challenge from the opposition. However, the decision to allocate candidates has exposed the internal strife in the party.
Local activists say that they have been active in the party movement for the last 10-15 years. They did all this by going door to door to meet voters during the elections, organizing party programs, and holding protests. But now, instead of getting the nomination, the rich are being given a chance. "We have shed blood and sweat for the party, but now we are being sidelined. These rich people are not in the party, but now they are getting tickets. What do we do, just lift the chessboard?" a senior worker asked, tears welling up in his eyes.
Activists' anger: Concrete examples
A worker from ward number 5 of Bhandara city, Rameshwar Patil (name changed), says, "I have been in the BJP for 20 years. I campaigned day and night in the last assembly elections. But now a ticket has been given to a businessman from Mumbai as a candidate for our ward. This man does not even know what the problem is here. We are locals, we know. Still, he left us out." According to Patil, more than 20 workers in the ward are considering leaving the party due to this decision.
On the other hand, Sunita Thackeray, a woman worker in the Congress, said, "Even with women's reservation, we don't get a chance. Rich men get priority. We go from village to village and talk to women voters, but we don't get our share. This is unfair." A similar situation has happened in the Nationalist Congress Party, and the party's Yuva Sena has warned of an agitation.
This anger has made party leaders sweat. BJP city president Dr. Nilesh Paranjpe, speaking to Loksatta news site, said, "Candidate allocation is an internal matter. We respect all workers. Rich candidates provide financial assistance to the party, but local workers will also get a chance. I will personally meet them and explain." However, workers do not believe this. They say, "They say this in every election, but there is never a change."
Politics of money power: Big question
The amount of money power has increased in many municipal elections in Vidarbha. It seems that campaigning is being done on the basis of money in Bhandar too. According to a study, candidates here spend an average of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore on their campaigns. Local activists are left behind as they do not have such funds. Political analyst Prof. Anil Deshmukh says, "This allocation is a reflection of the party's central leadership's policies. The rich are given priority to win elections, but in the long run, this affects the party's base. If loyal activists are alienated, the party will be weakened." The issue has also started a discussion on social media. The hashtag #Bhandara_Karyakarta_Injustice is trending on Facebook and Twitter. The activists have come together and started preparing for an agitation and have decided to take out a march in the city tomorrow. If this agitation is successful, there is a possibility of a similar outburst in other cities as well.
Bhandara, October 26, 2025(Special Correspondent):The political atmosphere in Bhandara city is heated. The decision to distribute candidates for the upcoming municipal elections has sparked a wave of anger among loyal party workers. Workers who have been working in the party movement for years, campaigning from house to house and supporting them in difficult times are now alleging that they are being sidelined. "Should we carry the chessboard all our lives?" The workers are expressing their regret over the party leadership. It is being expressed that the rift in the party is likely to increase due to giving priority to the rich and outside candidates and giving secondary status to grassroots workers.
The major political parties have announced the list of candidates for the Bhandara Municipal Elections, and most of the candidates in this list are rich businessmen, outside leaders or people who have recently joined the party. However, local workers do not appear in this list. This allocation was made by the local leadership of the party, and high-level instructions from Delhi-Mumbai are said to be behind this decision. Although this displeasure has spread among major parties like BJP, Congress and NCP, it is most intense in BJP. Bhandara is an important political center in Vidarbha, and the municipal elections here are considered an indicator for the assembly elections.
Background: Political identity of Bhandara
Bhandara district is a rich agricultural region in Vidarbha, and the municipality here plays an important role in the development of the city. In the last few years, the city has had many problems with basic facilities like water supply, roads and drainage. In this context, the upcoming elections have become important for the parties. Although the BJP currently has a majority in the municipality, it faces a strong challenge from the opposition. However, the decision to allocate candidates has exposed the internal strife in the party.
Local activists say that they have been active in the party movement for the last 10-15 years. They did all this by going door to door to meet voters during the elections, organizing party programs, and holding protests. But now, instead of getting the nomination, the rich are being given a chance. "We have shed blood and sweat for the party, but now we are being sidelined. These rich people are not in the party, but now they are getting tickets. What do we do, just lift the chessboard?" a senior worker asked, tears welling up in his eyes.
Activists' anger: Concrete examples
A worker from ward number 5 of Bhandara city, Rameshwar Patil (name changed), says, "I have been in the BJP for 20 years. I campaigned day and night in the last assembly elections. But now a ticket has been given to a businessman from Mumbai as a candidate for our ward. This man does not even know what the problem is here. We are locals, we know. Still, he left us out." According to Patil, more than 20 workers in the ward are considering leaving the party due to this decision.
On the other hand, Sunita Thackeray, a woman worker in the Congress, said, "Even with women's reservation, we don't get a chance. Rich men get priority. We go from village to village and talk to women voters, but we don't get our share. This is unfair." A similar situation has happened in the Nationalist Congress Party, and the party's Yuva Sena has warned of an agitation.
This anger has made party leaders sweat. BJP city president Dr. Nilesh Paranjpe, speaking to Loksatta news site, said, "Candidate allocation is an internal matter. We respect all workers. Rich candidates provide financial assistance to the party, but local workers will also get a chance. I will personally meet them and explain." However, workers do not believe this. They say, "They say this in every election, but there is never a change."
Politics of money power: Big question
The amount of money power has increased in many municipal elections in Vidarbha. It seems that campaigning is being done on the basis of money in Bhandar too. According to a study, candidates here spend an average of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore on their campaigns. Local activists are left behind as they do not have such funds. Political analyst Prof. Anil Deshmukh says, "This allocation is a reflection of the party's central leadership's policies. The rich are given priority to win elections, but in the long run, this affects the party's base. If loyal activists are alienated, the party will be weakened." The issue has also started a discussion on social media. The hashtag #Bhandara_Karyakarta_Injustice is trending on Facebook and Twitter. The activists have come together and started preparing for an agitation and have decided to take out a march in the city tomorrow. If this agitation is successful, there is a possibility of a similar outburst in other cities as well.
The major political parties have announced the list of candidates for the Bhandara Municipal Elections, and most of the candidates in this list are rich businessmen, outside leaders or people who have recently joined the party. However, local workers do not appear in this list. This allocation was made by the local leadership of the party, and high-level instructions from Delhi-Mumbai are said to be behind this decision. Although this displeasure has spread among major parties like BJP, Congress and NCP, it is most intense in BJP. Bhandara is an important political center in Vidarbha, and the municipal elections here are considered an indicator for the assembly elections.
Background: Political identity of Bhandara
Bhandara district is a rich agricultural region in Vidarbha, and the municipality here plays an important role in the development of the city. In the last few years, the city has had many problems with basic facilities like water supply, roads and drainage. In this context, the upcoming elections have become important for the parties. Although the BJP currently has a majority in the municipality, it faces a strong challenge from the opposition. However, the decision to allocate candidates has exposed the internal strife in the party.
Local activists say that they have been active in the party movement for the last 10-15 years. They did all this by going door to door to meet voters during the elections, organizing party programs, and holding protests. But now, instead of getting the nomination, the rich are being given a chance. "We have shed blood and sweat for the party, but now we are being sidelined. These rich people are not in the party, but now they are getting tickets. What do we do, just lift the chessboard?" a senior worker asked, tears welling up in his eyes.
Activists' anger: Concrete examples
A worker from ward number 5 of Bhandara city, Rameshwar Patil (name changed), says, "I have been in the BJP for 20 years. I campaigned day and night in the last assembly elections. But now a ticket has been given to a businessman from Mumbai as a candidate for our ward. This man does not even know what the problem is here. We are locals, we know. Still, he left us out." According to Patil, more than 20 workers in the ward are considering leaving the party due to this decision.
On the other hand, Sunita Thackeray, a woman worker in the Congress, said, "Even with women's reservation, we don't get a chance. Rich men get priority. We go from village to village and talk to women voters, but we don't get our share. This is unfair." A similar situation has happened in the Nationalist Congress Party, and the party's Yuva Sena has warned of an agitation.
This anger has made party leaders sweat. BJP city president Dr. Nilesh Paranjpe, speaking to Loksatta news site, said, "Candidate allocation is an internal matter. We respect all workers. Rich candidates provide financial assistance to the party, but local workers will also get a chance. I will personally meet them and explain." However, workers do not believe this. They say, "They say this in every election, but there is never a change."
Politics of money power: Big question
The amount of money power has increased in many municipal elections in Vidarbha. It seems that campaigning is being done on the basis of money in Bhandar too. According to a study, candidates here spend an average of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore on their campaigns. Local activists are left behind as they do not have such funds. Political analyst Prof. Anil Deshmukh says, "This allocation is a reflection of the party's central leadership's policies. The rich are given priority to win elections, but in the long run, this affects the party's base. If loyal activists are alienated, the party will be weakened." The issue has also started a discussion on social media. The hashtag #Bhandara_Karyakarta_Injustice is trending on Facebook and Twitter. The activists have come together and started preparing for an agitation and have decided to take out a march in the city tomorrow. If this agitation is successful, there is a possibility of a similar outburst in other cities as well.
