Zilla parishad to elect chief and deputy today

NASHIK: A week after the election of panchayat samiti members, the zilla parishad (ZP) would hold elections for its president and vice-president's posts on Sunday.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) appears confident to retain the president and vice- president's posts in the zilla parishad. The strong contenders from the NCP for the president's post include Sangita Dhage (Dindori), Sindhu Sonawane (Baglan), Madhuri Borase (Nandgaon Sakore) and Mandakini Bankar (Niphad).Sandip Gulve is a front-runner for the post of the vice-president.
Sources said Kiran Thore, Niphad, Sujata Waje, Igatputri and Vijayshree Chumble, Nashik are likely to contest independently during Sunday's election.
On the other hand, the Congress and the Shiv Sena have still not decided upon the candidates that they wish to field as their respective candidates for the posts.
Shiv Sena district president Vijay Karanjkar said, "The candidates would be finalized by late in the evening and a meeting has been scheduled. Our party hopes to bring in a change."
The elections are scheduled to be held at the newly constructed auditorium of the Zilla Parishad at 11am.
Apart from the 73 zilla parishad members, an additional 15 panchayat samiti presidents would also have the right to vote for the posts.
Incumbent zilla parishad president Ravindra Pagar (NCP) said that all 30 members of the party were expected to retain their posts.
"The zilla parishad committee consists a team of 73 members and at least a majority of 35 members is required. Apart from the 30 members from the NCP, the party has the support of 14 Congress members. The tall of 44 amounts to as the majority figure. There is no question of losing the seats," he added.