Major parties battle protests, rebellion and anger on the last day of nomination for Maharashtra civic polls
High drama in Mumbai to Pune and Nashik to Sambhajinagar as parties face internal rebellion, office vandalism, and independent bids over ticket distribution.
BJP supporters at the venue where party workers are filing nominations for the BMC polls. (Express Photo/Ganesh Shirsekar) From Mumbai to Nashik and Pune to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the last day of filing the nominations for the municipal corporation polls witnessed chaos, rebellion and resignations of workers cutting across party lines. With elections taking place after a long break, the ruling Mahayuti saw maximum instances of conflict at various locations due to higher number of interested candidates.
In Nashik, two BJP MLAs Seema Hire and Rahul Dhikale and other party office-bearers had to face a ‘filmy style’ chase by interested candidates as they were carrying the A and B forms necessary to file nominations. A week ago, Nashik had witnessed similar drama after BJP MLA Devyani Farande and others opposed BJP minister Girish Mahajan’s initiative of inducting more leaders from Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
On Tuesday, the old-timers of the BJP accused the local leadership of denying them the nomination. It resulted in them following a car rode by MLAs and other office-bearers since they had the A and B form. Later, a number of workers broke into a farmhouse to meet the leaders. Mahajan, speaking to reporters, played down the incident saying it was result of too many aspirants.
In Mumbai, SS-UBT is faced with rebellion after its leaders Priti Patankar, Anil Kokil and Chandrashekhar Wayangankar have decided to file the nomination as independent. Similarly, the BJP too faced protests for giving tickets to newly inducted leaders instead of original ones. Resignations have come in from Mulund, Chembur, Goregaon and Colaba where the BJP workers opposed the party candidates. In Chembur, three BJP rebels have filed applications as independent. Similarly, a BJP rebel has filed an application against Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar’s sister-in-law Harshita Narvekar. Three family members of Narvekar, including his brother Makarand and cousin Gauravi Shivalkar-Narvekar have been given ticket by the BJP. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLA Prakash Surve faced protests of party workers after ward number 3 went to the BJP MLC Pravin Darekar’s brother.
In Thane, aspirants of BJP ticket staged protest inside the party office which even led to vandalism inside. In Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Thane Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske’s son Ashutosh and state minister Pratap Sarnaik’s son Purvesh had to withdraw from the race after his nomination faced opposition from within the party.
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, after the announcement of break of alliance of Shinde-led Sena and the BJP, the aspirants held protests for denying ticket. The workers stormed the BJP office and allegedly broke the door of cabins of minister Atul Save and BJP leader Bhagwat Karad. A woman worker even attempted of self-immolation by pouring petrol. The police intervened in time and stopped her from lighting herself. The workers alleged that newcomers were given tickets while the original party workers are being neglected. Later in the day, BJP’s ally RPI too held similar protests for neglecting them.
In Pune, the Shinde-led Sena witnessed tensed scenes till the end due to uncertainty over the alliance with the BJP. One group led by Nana Bhangire announced the end of alliance in Pune while MLA Vijay Shivtare claimed that the talks were on. From Ajit Pawar’s NCP, infamous criminal Gaja Marne’s wife was given the ticket along with Sonali and Laxmi Andekar who are allegedly involved in the murder of Ayush Komkar.
Share
