Nashik Kumbh Mela Budget: A Political Goldmine?
• Battle for Nashik’s Guardian Minister Post Heats Up
• Devotion or Business? The Politics Behind Kumbh Mela
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
The upcoming Kumbh Mela in Nashik, slated for 2027, has become a focal point of political contention between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena’s Shinde faction. Both parties are vying for the influential position of Guardian Minister of Nashik, a role pivotal in overseeing the festival’s extensive preparations and the allocation of its substantial budget.
According to the Sprouts Newspaper Investigation Team, the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has outlined an ambitious plan for the Kumbh Mela, with projected expenditures escalating over time.
Initially, in February 2024, the NMC proposed a budget of ₹11,625 crore for various developmental projects associated with the event. This figure saw a significant increase by July 2024, reaching ₹15,172 crore.
The allocation encompasses a wide range of infrastructural enhancements, including the construction of 21 new bridges over the Godavari River and its tributaries, expansion and relaying of major roads, and comprehensive improvements in water supply, sewage systems, electricity, solid waste management, and healthcare services. Notably, ₹5,426 crore is earmarked solely for land acquisition to facilitate these projects.
The Sprouts Newspaper Investigation Team has found that the Guardian Minister’s role is instrumental in steering these developments, granting them considerable influence over the disbursement of funds and the awarding of lucrative contracts.
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This authority has ignited a fierce rivalry between the BJP and the Shiv Sena’s Shinde group, each aiming to secure the position to capitalize on the economic opportunities presented by the festival.
Historically, the Kumbh Mela has been a magnet for political maneuvering, with parties seeking to leverage the event’s massive budgets for financial gain.
The festival, which occurs every 12 years, is not only a significant religious gathering but also a catalyst for extensive urban development, attracting millions of devotees. During the last Kumbh Mela in Nashik in 2015, over 2 crore (20 million) pilgrims attended, and projections for 2027 estimate an influx of up to 5 crore (50 million) visitors.
The Sprouts Newspaper Investigation Team has raised concerns that the intense competition for the Guardian Minister post is primarily driven by financial interests rather than public welfare.
Critics argue that such power struggles detract from the festival’s spiritual significance and may lead to the misallocation of funds intended for essential infrastructure and services.
The intertwining of political interests with religious events underscores the challenges in ensuring that the primary focus remains on facilitating a safe and enriching experience for the devotees, rather than serving as a conduit for financial gain.