In Chandrapur, 13 of the 27 Congress corporators of the Municipal Corporation have formed a separate faction, registering the group at the Divisional Commissioner’s office in Nagpur under Sudarshan Adbale’s leadership. Congress MP Pratibha Dhanorkar was present during the registration. The remaining 14 corporators, however, objected to the move, underscoring ongoing tensions within the party. Sources indicate that the split is linked to differences between senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar and MP Dhanorkar.

The recent municipal elections, held on January 15, saw Congress emerge as the single largest party in the 66-member Chandrapur Municipal Corporation, securing 27 seats, while the BJP won 23. With 34 seats required for a majority, the internal rift within Congress could significantly impact the formation of the local administration.

Meanwhile, in Thane district, two Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) — Madhur Umesh Mhatre and Kirti Rajan Dhone — have gone untraceable. Party officials confirmed that their mobile phones are switched off, and repeated attempts to contact them, including through family members, have failed. Shiv Sena (UBT) Kalyan district chief Sharad Shivraj Patil has filed a complaint with Kolsewadi Police Station, requesting a formal investigation and registration of a missing persons case.

Patil expressed concern that the disappearances could involve pressure, coercion, or other criminal elements, emphasizing the matter’s implications for law, order, and public trust. Kolsewadi Police Senior Inspector Ganesh Nayande confirmed that an investigation has been initiated.

In the January 15 KDMC elections, the 122-member civic body saw Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena secure 52 seats, BJP 51, and Shiv Sena (UBT) 11, highlighting a competitive political landscape where the absence of corporators could affect council functioning.

These developments in Chandrapur and Kalyan-Dombivli illustrate the fragility and factionalism in Maharashtra’s local politics post-elections, raising questions about governance stability and the role of internal party disputes in shaping civic administration.