WITH THE city all set to go to booths for Lok Sabha, PMC and possibly Assembly elections within a year, the BJP is cautious in selecting a new city unit chief who would be able to retain the hold of the party in electoral politics. Though many names are making rounds to head the city unit, those who want to contest the elections hope that they would not be entrusted with the responsibility of the city unit. “There is a change of guard in BJP every three years. Thus, a decision on the city unit chief is awaited and it may be declared anytime now,” said city BJP chief Jagdish Mulik. The BJP had appointed Mulik as city unit chief nearly three years ago in an attempt to rehabilitate him after he lost the assembly elections from Vadgaonsheri constituency in 2019. Now, there are many names making rounds for the post of city unit chief including that of legislators Siddharth Shirole, Madhuri Misal, former mayor Murlidhar Mohol, former corporators Ganesh Bidkar, Hemant Rasane and Dheeraj Ghate. “It is clear that being appointed as city unit chief scuttles the chances of getting party ticket for elections. Thus, none of the senior leaders are keen to head the city unit in the present situation as they want to contest elections but one has to lead the city unit if asked by the party,” said a BJP leader. The party had to face defeat in the recently held Kasba byelections where it lost its bastion to Congress.
