Agra municipal election: Tough fight for BJP this time with SP, BSP strongmen

While the national leadership of BJP is busy preparing to clinch both Himachal and Gujarat in the upcoming Assembly elections, the Uttar Pradesh government is going all out in bid to win municipal elections in Agra.

Agra municipal elections are slated for November 22.

The city witnessed traffic-choked roads on Monday due to last day rush to file nominations for 100 wards and mayor seat.

Municipal elections of Agra have been nothing short of a stronghold for the party but the sailing this time seems to be rough due to previous office-bearers' poor performance shadowing people's whims.

Agra industrialist Naveen Jain, BJP's candidate this time faces stiff competition from Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) nominee.

BJP city president Vijay Shivhare told India Today, "Naveen Jain has been the Deputy Mayor of Agra in the past and has experience in city governance. If he wins the elections, the city will certainly benefit from his experience..."

To this, Samajwadi Party city president Raisuddin said,"SP has always been the closest competitor to BJP in every municipal election but this time the party is determined to take the lead."

However, with BSP's candidate in fray, for the first time the contest is going to be three-edged fight. Their nominee Digamber Singh Dhakrey is an industrialist and a seasoned politician who is known in the city for his social work.

Talking to India Today, Dhakrey said that his vision for Agra was very clear. He wanted the city to be as clean as the surroundings of the Taj Mahal are.

He added that Agra thrives on tourism and footwear industry and so both will remain his prime focus if he becomes the mayor.

For the first time, Congress too has fielded a candidate- Vinod Bansal who runs a group of educational institutions but is unlikely to win the election owing to low support-base for Congress party in Agra.