Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently hinted that the state leadership is keen to join hands with Shiv Sena for upcoming BMC polls. But, believe it or not, certain elements from the party want an alliance with the NCP!
Currently, BJP is the big brother in BJP-Sena Government at the center and the state of Maharashtra as well. It controls all the important portfolios, including the home ministry.
Before coming to power, the BJP state leadership had promised strict action against various members of the Nationalist Congress Party involved in corruption, including its leader Ajit Pawar. But, after coming to power, it initially hinted at forming an alliance with Sharad Pawar and NCP just because it did not wish to share some portfolios with Sena.
BJP did not take any action against junior Pawar in irrigation scam, nor did it took any people-centric decisions to ease food inflation, corruption in government offices, or acted against land mafias. In fact, some of the party’s own ministers were accused of allowing traders to trigger tur dal prices as part of tur dal scam.
(Note: NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal was arrested and investigated by ED because of BJP MP Kirit Somaiya’s personal efforts and state ACB, CM, or leaders had nothing to do with the action as per reports)
Anyway, getting back to the topic, some of the top central leaders wish the party to contest each and every election in Maharashtra with its oldest partner. But, Amit Shah has a problem with this according to reports.
BJP did win 122 seats in state Assembly, but Modi wave has decimated because of state government’s failure in keeping its promises according to senior BJP leader who preferred to remain anonymous during his recent interaction about BMC polls. The party tasted defeat in most of the municipal elections that it contested alone recently. Surprisingly, state’s top leadership, including CM had campaigned during these elections.
If you check all the results for polls that took place in various parts of the state after 2014, you would find that Shiv Sena has won most of them. While on the other hand, BJP lost with good margins wherever it was standing opposite Sena.
Out of all disasters, BJP should look at its poor performance in Kalyan-Dombivali, Badlapur, Ambernath, and Navi Mumbai municipal polls. Party failed to score better than Shiv Sena in spite of the fact that CM Fadanvis had campaigned in these areas and declared packages worth crores for development.
Now, BJP’s over enthusiastic workers in poll-bound Pune, Pimpri, and Mumbai want the party to contest upcoming civic polls separately in spite of recent disasters.
Shifting loyalties
Many local leaders from the NCP have changed their loyalty and have joined the BJP to contest upcoming civic polls in Pune, Mumbai, and PCMC areas. So, don’t be surprised if you find a BJP worker who admires Sharad Pawar more than CM Devendra Fadnavis. Such fellows belong to (what I call) the pro-NCP group within the BJP. These people do not have anything to do with BJP’s ideology or even its development agendas; they wish to contest on lotus symbol to make money. In fact, some senior leaders from BJP Pune unit are already complaining about super rich NCP men entering the BJP with an aim to get tickets for next year’s civic elections.
The pro-NCP group within the BJP is urging the party to contest polls separately so that they can accommodate everyone who has entered the party with hope to win polls on BJP wave. They are even willing to form post poll alliance with the NCP in Pune instead of Sena. But, voters can prove to be smarter.
Hope Devendra Fadnavis looks into this issue and makes sure that the party gives tickets only to workers who are with them since decades. He must consider going with old, relevant ideological partner instead of offering a helping hand to corrupt workers jumping out of a sinking ship. On the other hand, Sena should also show more respect to its partner and stop unnecessary criticism.
