Moving from NMC to Rajya Sabha, Mayatai still rooted to the ground Nagpur: Her phone starts ringing even before she settles into a chair inside the DPDC cell at the Nagpur Municipal Corporation headquarters. One call ends, another begins. For Mayatai Ivnate, the transition from corporator to member of the Rajya Sabha has not diluted the importance of local issues — if anything, it has amplified them. "I still get calls from my prabhag every day," she says, glancing at her phone between conversations with officials. "People don't see posts, they see accessibility," she adds. Beyond the steady stream of civic complaints lies a deeper worry — one unfolding in the tribal belts of Deolapar. A recent tiger attack that claimed a villager's life triggered a dharna, but the crisis runs far deeper. During her visit to the protest site in Ramtek taluka, Ivnate met agitators who have been staging a sit-in for nearly a month under the banner of a local Janhit Sanrakshak committee and accepted their memorandum. Villages including Patharai, Dahoda, Pipariya, Dongartal, Bandra, Vadamba, Karwahi, Pindkapar (Lodha), Belda, Khanora, Bothiya-Palora, Katta, Deolapar, Umri, Varghat, Hivra (Bazar), Salai, Tangla and Pusad rehabilitation areas have been living under the shadow of fear for years. "The situation is extremely serious. People are living in fear," Ivnate tells TOI. "They cannot step out after evening, cannot go to farms. This conflict has increased manifold, especially near forest areas." In the past year alone, 24 people lost their lives, hundreds of livestock have been killed, and large swathes of farmland have suffered damage — turning the issue into a full-blown humanitarian crisis.#rajya_sabha #nagpur_municipal_corporation #mayatai_ivnate #deolapar #janhit_sanrakshak_committee
Maharashtra Rajya Sabha Election 2026 BJP Likely to Field Fresh Faces Including Vinod Tawde and Mayatai Ivnate The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is reportedly preparing to introduce new faces in its Rajya Sabha election campaign for Maharashtra, with names like Vinod Tawde and Mayatai Ivnate gaining attention. While the party has not officially announced its list, sources suggest it is shifting focus from veteran leaders to younger candidates, aiming to rejuvenate its presence in the upper house. Meanwhile, the Mahavishwas Aghadi (MVA) alliance has finalized its support for Sharad Pawar’s candidacy, signaling a strategic alignment ahead of the March 16 voting. The Rajya Sabha election in Maharashtra will determine seven seats, with the contest expected to be closely contested. The BJP’s decision to field new candidates has sparked speculation about its strategy to balance experience and fresh talent. Mayatai Ivnate, a former Nagpur mayor and tribal woman leader, is among the names being considered for a seat, reflecting the party’s emphasis on diversity and local representation. Vinod Tawde, the party’s national executive member, and Pritam Mund, a former MLA, are also likely candidates, according to insiders. In contrast, the MVA alliance has resolved internal disputes, with Sharad Pawar confirmed as the sole representative for the alliance. The Congress, which is part of the MVA, has endorsed Pawar’s candidacy, ensuring a unified front. Analysts note that the BJP’s move to include new faces could weaken its traditional stronghold in the state, particularly in urban and tribal regions. However, the party’s focus on regional leaders like Tawde and Mund may help consolidate support in key constituencies.#bharatiya_janata_party #maharashtra_rajya_sabha_election_2026 #vinod_tawde #mayatai_ivnate #mahavishwas_aghadi
