BJP wants party to work harder, take revenge for Kasba defeat

Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule also said leaders who join from other parties will not be given tickets, instead, deserving party workers will be made poll candidates.

In a message to party workers, the state BJP chief said the party has to start working for the coming elections of civic body, Lok Sabha and assembly. (Express photo/File)

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Hurt by its defeat in its own bastion, the Kasba Assembly constituency, in the recently held bypoll, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule Friday urged the party leaders and workers to work hard for the upcoming elections to take “revenge” of the defeat.

He also said leaders who join from other parties will not be given tickets, instead, deserving party workers will be made poll candidates.

Bawankule said, “The Kasba bypoll was important and many were tracking it across the state. I was frequently asked about the political situation in the constituency during the byelection. We lost the bypoll in Kasba,” he said, adding, “Nobody was responsible for it (defeat in polls).”

Bawankule also said that speculations about Nationalist Congress Party’s Ajit Pawar joining hands with the BJP are incorrect. “These (rumours) are spread by the Maha Vikas Aghadi to defame Pawar,” he said, adding that the BJP is not in talks with Ajit Pawar.

In a message to the cadre, the state BJP chief said the party must start working for the upcoming civic body, Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. “We have to put in our best efforts to ensure the success of the party in elections and work in a way to take revenge for the defeat (in Kasba),” Bawankule said.

Last month, in a major setback to the party, Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar defeated the BJP’s Hemant Rasane by over 10,000 votes in a closely-fought contest in the BJP bastion of Kasba.

On the byelection for the Pune Lok Sabha seat, necessitated by the death of sitting MP Girish Bapat, the state BJP chief said there is no announcement yet. “The BJP is not thinking of it as of now and aspirants of all political parties should avoid displaying their eagerness by putting up advertisement boards as future MPs,” he said.

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The BJP had won 100 seats in the Pune Municipal Corporation election in 2017 and now the aim should be to get 140 seats, Bawankule said, adding, “This time poll tickets will be given to only deserving party workers and not those who jumped from other parties. It is the ideology of the party that matters, not a person. The selection will be based on public preference and not on any leader’s recommendation.”

The state BJP chief said the party should regain its past pride in the city by registering a grand victory in all the elections. In 2014, the BJP had won all the eight assembly seats in Pune city and the Pune Lok Sabha seat, followed by a grand victory in the PMC election in 2017, which was a first for the party in the civic body, and in 2019 it won six Assembly seats and the Pune Lok Sabha seat.

The BJP will contest all the elections in the state in alliance with Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Bawankule said. “The party workers should make efforts to see Devendra Fadnavis as the next chief minister of the state,” he added.

On the induction of Swati Mohol, wife of gangster Sharad Mohol, in the BJP, Bawankule said he is not aware of the details of the person inducted into the party. “We are not considering the past but the future of those who are joining the party. Anyone who wants to work for the country, believes in the ideology of the BJP and is ready to work under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make the country the best in the world is not refused entry into the party,” Bawankule said.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Pune. With over 22 years of experience in the industry, he is a highly specialized journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of urban infrastructure, governance, and sustainability. Professional Background Role: As Assistant Editor, he plays a key role in the editorial direction of the Pune bureau, specializing in urban policy and its direct impact on citizens. Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a PG Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He also studied at the prestigious Fergusson College. Impactful Reporting: He is credited with research-based articles on conservancy staff (waste workers) that influenced national policy for better working conditions. He is also known for exposing the contrast between high-end infrastructure (like helipads for leaders) and the lack of basic amenities like schools in their home districts. Personal Interests: An avid trekker and sports enthusiast, his personal interest in the outdoors often informs his reporting on environmental protection and sustainable development. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) His reporting in late 2025 has been dominated by the upcoming January 2026 Civic Polls in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the city's infrastructure boom: 1. Political Analysis (Civic Elections 2026) "Not friendly but a bitter fight lies ahead between BJP and NCP for PMC, PCMC" (Dec 22, 2025): A detailed look at the intense rivalry between the Mahayuti partners as they prepare for the January 15 municipal elections. "Pune civic polls: Big blow to NCP, NCP(SP) as leaders switch to BJP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on high-profile poaching and party-hopping ahead of the elections. "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): Analyzing the results of the local self-government body elections as a precursor to the main civic polls. 2. Infrastructure & Urban Development "Looking Ahead at 2026: Pune to see inauguration of much-awaited Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar metro route" (Dec 22, 2025): An "outlook" piece on the critical Metro Line 3 project expected to finish by March 2026. "Building Pune: PMC to construct double-decker bridge over Mula-Mutha River" (Dec 18, 2025): Detailing a major project aimed at easing traffic between Hadapsar and Kharadi. "Condition of highway from Pune to Kolhapur to improve in a year: Gadkari" (Dec 4, 2025): Reporting on the Union Minister’s assurances regarding one of the state's most critical transport corridors. 3. Civic Governance & Environment "Install sensors, LED indicators at construction sites within 15 days: PMC to builders" (Dec 16, 2025): A follow-up to the "Breathless Pune" series, reporting on new mandates for builders to monitor air quality in real-time. "Errors in electoral rolls: PMC corrects data of 92,466 voters" (Dec 16, 2025): Tracking the administrative efforts to clean up the voter lists before the 2026 elections. Signature Style Ajay Jadhav is known for accountability journalism. His work often bridges the gap between high-level policy and the "ground zero" reality of Pune's residents. He is particularly focused on Sustainable Development, ensuring that as Pune grows into a "Bharat Mandapam" style destination (referring to his report on the Lohegaon project), its environmental and social safeguards remain intact. X (Twitter): @ajay_khape ... Read More

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