120 file papers for Cantt Board elections

NASHIK: As many as 120 candidates filed nomination forms on Friday from the eight wards of Deolali for the election to the Cantonment Board on January 11. The Deolali Camp police had maintained a strict vigil to ensure that there was no law and order issue, given that several aspiring candidates would be filing the nomination forms.
Political leaders like former MP Rajabhau Godase, former MLA Vasant Gite, Shiv Sena district president Vijay Karanjkar and BJP district president Vikas Deshmukh were present to support their candidates during the process of filing the nominations.
Prashant Godase, a shopkeeper from Deolali Camp area, said, "There was unprecedented enthusiasm among the people in Deolali. I have not seen such a large number of people aspiring to contest the elections. Earlier, there used to be some select people who used to contest the elections."
Anuja Natu, a social worker from the same area, said, "The last five years have gone in vain. The Bhagur Municipal Council and the Nashik Municipal Corporation have got funds from various schemes of the state government and got projects of underground sewage and water supply. But the Cantonment Board has failed to get the funds from the state government."
Among other issues are the open sewage lines and the health hazards spreading from it in Deolai Camp, which is gradually losing its identity of a green and clean area. The residents of Deolali Camp said that it appeared that a wave of change was in the offing.
In the past, elections of Deolali Cantonment Board have been held on the basis of panel. However, this time around, there are candidates who want the elections on the basis of parties.
Rajesh Akhade, senior police inspector of the Deolali Camp police station, said, "nearly 6,000 people had gathered to file the nominations at the Cantonment Board office. However, we had barricaded the roads 100m away from the office. Only four people along with the candidate were allowed inside the cantonment board for filing the nomination. Strict security arrangements were maintained at the Zenda Chowk, Station House Gate, main gate of the Cantonment Board and Eagle Maidan. A force of nearly 60 personnel, including a police inspector, one assistant police inspector, five sub-inspectors and 55 constables, were deployed around the Cantonment Board office and other areas from 8 am to 5 pm."