‘1 lakh WhatsApp groups linked to war room’: Mahayuti to get 51% votes in local body polls, says Chandrashekhar Bawankule

Bawankule reiterated that the BJP’s primary focus remains on strengthening the Mahayuti alliance. While acknowledging that competition may arise between equally capable workers, he emphasised that the party will prevent differences of opinion from escalating into personal conflicts. “The Maha Vikas Aghadi will not win a single zilla parishad or municipal corporation,” he declared, underscoring the Mahayuti’s determination to dominate local governance.

‘Disconnect between Congress, its leaders’

Further highlighting the BJP’s worker-centric approach, Bawankule said many Congress leaders and workers are expressing the desire to join the BJP, drawn by the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis. He criticised the Congress for its lack of engagement with workers, stating, “Good office-bearers are sidelined, and there is a significant disconnect between the party and its leaders.” In contrast, BJP workers have easy access to senior leaders, fostering trust and communication, while Congress workers face barriers in connecting with state leadership, leading to widespread disillusionment, he pointed out.

Bawankule also emphasised that Mahayuti workers have been instructed to avoid statements that could create discord within the alliance. He urged workers to recognise their true opponents and refrain from treating allies as rivals due to personal or constituency-level disputes. “As part of the government, all leaders must adhere to the alliance’s code of conduct,” he said, affirming that the BJP will follow the directives of the chief minister, with alliance partners Eknath Shinde and Ajit-dada Pawar ensuring the compliance of their respective parties.

On Thursday, Bawankule had ignited a controversy after telling party workers that their mobile phones and WhatsApp groups are being monitored ahead of the upcoming elections, leading Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut to demand his arrest over the remarks.

Later, Bawankule clarified that he meant that the party was monitoring the work carried out by its members, and their comments and reactions on WhatsApp. “The development schemes brought in by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the initiatives introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government are all monitored by us. That is what I meant when I said we ‘keep an eye’ on things,” he added.