There is hectic activity in the Nationalist Congress Party, which is at the helm of affairs in Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. Lobbying by candidates interested in occupying the chair had actually begun before the mayor and the deputy mayor put in their papers. That both of them would resign had been speculated in the town for long.

Aspirants for the post are leaving no stone unturned to develop their support base within the party. The candidates desiring the post are rushing to the doors of NCP bigwigs like Azam Pansare, who is the Pimpri-Chinchwad NCP president, MLAs Vilas Lande and and MLC Laxman Jagtap. But NCP sources said District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar will have the final say.

The post of mayor is reserved for women from OBC category. All the potential candidates for the mayor’s post are political novices and have been elected as corporators for the first time. The names of Aparna Doke, Sushma Gawade, Shanta Alhat and Sujata Lokhande are currently doing the rounds.

NCP House leader Jagdish Shetty said Dr Meena Patil, Sujata Lokhande and Aparna Doke are the top contenders for the post of mayor. On her part, Dr Patil said, “I have learnt the ropes of how PCMC functions in the last one and a half years that I have been a corporator. I understand that a mayor should enjoy the confidence of all 105 corporators of PCMC and just not own party corporators and leaders. If I get elected to the post, I would try to do the same.”

Sujata Lokhande said, “I am a graduate... I am interested in working for the people. But I will abide by the decision of senior party leaders and Ajit Pawar.” Aparna Doke said, who lost out to Vaishali Ghodekar last time, said, “I am a ordinary worker of the party and will try to do my best in any responsibility given to me.”