Hazaribag: With civic body poll bugle sounded, aspiring candidates have begun lobbying with political parties to secure support for the posts of both councillor and the mayor under the Hazaribag Municipal Corporation. Political alignments and behind-the-scene parleys have intensified though the polls are officially non party-based.Several former and prospective councillors have made rounds of BJP MP Manish Jaiswal and Hazaribag Sadar MLA Pradip Prasad, seeking support to strengthen their claim for the mayoral chair. Development of the city’s 36 wards, civic amenities, and leadership credibility are cited as key issues, but political arithmetic is expected to play a decisive role.Veteran grassroots-level leaders across parties have also thrown their hats into the ring, arguing that experience and public service should outweigh money power and political pressure.Observers noted that, unlike earlier elections, leadership of the civic body has become the central issue this time.Former mayor Roshni Tirkey (BJP) faced criticism over the slow pace of development. Issues such as drinking water supply, sanitation, roads, and street lighting are top concerns in this election. However, party backing is seen as a crucial factor for victory, admitted a senior BJP leader who is in the race.Rashtriya OBC Morcha secretary and lawyer Suresh Thakur criticised the “backstage manoeuvring”, saying mayoral aspirants should contest on their own merit. “If party-backed candidates keep winning, the corporation will function like a political office, hampering development and alienating opposition councillors,” he stressed.Trader Ravi Ranjan Singh said, “Hazaribag has long been a BJP stronghold, with the first mayor, Roshni Tirkey, also from the saffron party. Looking at the developments and the previous trends at this BJP bastion, it appears the winner will be a political party, not an individual.”People have also started knocking the doors of JMM and Congress, which are part of the ruling alliance in the state, for support. A JMM leader on condition of anonymity admitted that each and every party is eying the top seat and hence, backstage exercise is on. “Its an important post. I also want that our man to sit on mayor’seat,” he added.Congress leader Manoj Narayan Bhagat argued that people are not getting enough facilities as compared to various taxes levied on them. “A non-political mayor is the demand of present time,” he told TOI.