Sena-backed aghadi wrests KMC

Tuesday, November 18 1997

Sena-backed aghadi wrests KMC

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

KOLHAPUR, Nov 17: Ending the three-day pre-poll drama which witnessed the defection and subsequent re-entry of ruling group members, corporators Shivajirao Marutirao Kadam and Saraswati Murlidhar Pawar, both from the ruling Tararanee Aghadi were today elected as Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively of the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC).

Significantly, Shiv Sena corporators, who always played the Opposition role in the KMC, for the first time in this mayoral election, extended their support to ruling group candidates.

Five corporators had filed their nomination papers including Kadam, Dileep Vasant Shetye (Shahu Aghadi), Ashok Mane (Shiv Sena) and two rebels from ruling Aghadi, Dileep Mugdum and Babu Pharas.

However, at the last minute Mane, Mugdum and Pharas withdrew their nominations from the contest. In a straight contest Kadam defeated Shetye by a margin of 47 votes. As many as 71 corporators cast their votes from the total 72 members in KMC of which Kadam had polled 59, while Shetye got 12 votes.

Outgoing mayor Pralhad Bhausaheb Chavan declared Kadam as the 22nd mayor of Kolhapur. In the deputy mayoral election, there were four corporators in the fray, however, besides, Saraswati Pawar, the remaining three Datta Tipugade and Rekha Patil (both Sena), and Vilas Kesarkar (rebel) withdraw their nomination.

Hence the newly elected mayor Kadam declared Saraswati Pawar elected unopposed as the 21st Deputy Mayor of Kolhapur.

The 53-year-old newly elected Mayor Kadam was earlier elected as councilors of Kolhapur municipal in 1967. After conversion of Kolhapur municipality into Kolhapur Municipal Corporation he won twice KMC elections held in 1978 and 1995. He was also deputy mayor of KMC during 1982-83. He is presently director of Rajaram Cooperative Sugar Factory and city based Urban Cooperative Bank.

Earlier, the split drama occurred in opposition to Kadam's candidature in the ruling Tararanee Aghadi as two strong aspirants for the post, Dileep Mugdum and Babu Pharas filed their nomination defecting from the Aghadi on November 13. They had also charged the ruling group leader Madevrao Mahadik with neopotism which had shocked political circles.