Rebels go unreachable on last day of withdrawal, somewhat success to Mahayuti in convincing rebels

Kolhapur: Several disgruntled party workers who had rebelled against their party's decisions and filed nominations for Kolhapur Municipal Corporation election went "unreachable" to avoid calls from party leaders on Friday, the last day of nomination withdrawals.Some rebels alleged that their parties favoured newcomers over loyal workers who had served for decades. One such candidate, Madhavi Patil from Ward 20, said, "The party relies on loyal workers to draw crowds, but when it comes to rewarding them, they are sidelined for reasons like financial status or lack of influence. Once I decided to rebel, I refused to withdraw my nomination."Now, 543 candidates remain in the fray across 81 corporator wards in KMC, with 274 candidates withdrawing their nominations. Elections will be held in 20 wards of the municipal corporation, with Wards 1 to 19 having four members each and Ward 20 having five. A total of 813 nomination papers were initially filed. Rebellion was reported in BJP, Shiv Sena, Congress, and NCP ranks.Among those who withdrew their nominations were former KMC mayor Hasina Faras, former corporator Mayadevi Bhandare, former standing committee chairman Indrajit Salgar, former corporator Rahul Chavan, and Krishnaraj Mahadik (son of Rajya Sabha MP Dhananjay Mahadik). Other notable withdrawals included NCP candidates Yogita Kodolikar, Shruti Amit Patil, Geeta Ajit Tivade, Kiran Ramchandra Majgaonkar, Namrata Rakesh Mahadik, Rituja Ajit Jadhav, Tejaswini Vijaysinh Mane, Parvez Dilawarkhan Pathan and Dhanashree Todkar.MLA Rajesh Kshirsagar said, "Everyone has the right to seek candidature, but tough decisions must sometimes be made after considering party surveys and local dynamics. Those who were capable but not selected should not feel wronged or disheartened. Party workers who withdrew their nominations have been assured fair treatment through appointments to various positions in corporations, state, district, and taluka-level committees, nominated corporator roles in the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation, and important committees such as education and transport in the near future."