BJP To Get New Nagpur City Chief Ahead Of Local Body Polls

Nagpur: The BJP is preparing to appoint a new city president in Nagpur as part of a wider organisational overhaul across Maharashtra ahead of the crucial local body elections expected to be held post Diwali. Party sources confirmed that all top city office bearers will meet on May 1 to deliberate on probable names, with the final selection to be made by the party's central leadership.
The current city chief, Jitendra alias Bunty Kukde, is likely to be replaced, although some party workers have pushed for his continuation, citing the party's electoral success under his leadership — including a Lok Sabha win and victories in four of six Assembly seats in the city. Among the names being considered are BJP state vice president Sanjay Bhende, senior leader Narendra alias Balya Borkar, and former city chief Pravin Datke.
Observers Hansraj Ahir and Ranjeet Sakarwar will arrive in Nagpur on May 1 to finalise a list of three candidates. A similar selection process is underway for the Nagpur rural unit, where three names have already been sent to the state office in Mumbai.
Sources revealed that state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule is likely to be succeeded by Ravindra Chavan, who currently serves as executive president. Though Bawankule's official term ends in August, the leadership is considering extending his tenure through the local polls to maintain stability during the transition.
A key meeting attended by both Bawankule and Chavan was held in Nagpur earlier this week to discuss upcoming changes and organisational planning. Meanwhile, restructuring at the mandal level has already begun, with new units taking charge across the city.
Party insiders noted that the rural district chief is likely to be a consensus candidate endorsed by local MLAs, with the selection guided by representation directives favouring OBC, SC, ST, or women candidates.
The process is being closely monitored by central leadership, with consultations expected to involve Union minister Nitin Gadkari, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Bawankule.
As part of its municipal corporation election preparedness, the BJP has established 2,158 booth-level committees in Nagpur, covering all 151 wards, of which 600 are already operational. These units are tasked with voter outreach, community engagement, and electoral roll updates. The party is also forming 20 senior-led mandals across six assembly segments, with four each planned in the southwest and north constituencies and three in the remaining zones.
The appointments and grassroots mobilisation are seen as central to BJP's strategy to reinforce its urban and rural presence ahead of the upcoming polls.