Turf war within Mahayuti: BJP workers celebrate rejection of NCP candidate’s nomination in Angar, Ajit Pawar’s party vows to hit back

”Ajit Pawar, you can go against everyone, but don’t try it with us,” said Balraje Patil, son of former NCP MLA Rajan Patil, who recently switched over to the BJP.

The rejection of Thite’s nomination has paved the way for BJP nominee Prajakta Patil, the daughter-in-law of Rajan Patil, to become the president of Angar nagar panchayat, which has recently been converted from a gram panchayat.

The NCP has reacted strongly to the challenge thrown by the BJP unit in Solapur. ”Those who are taunting us and indulging in wild celebrations will soon be bending down,” said NCP chief spokesperson Suraj Chavan, adding that the BJP had won local elections through unfair means.

NCP leader Amol Mitkari said, ”The BJP leader and his son will get a befitting reply.”

Ajit Pawar, however, has refused to get into a duel with the BJP. ”I will collect all the information and then speak,” he said.

Even MLA Rohit Pawar, who belongs to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, took objection to the use of language against Ajit Pawar. ”Your son does not know that power comes and power goes… The BJP has come to power by stealing votes. These fake buildings are going to collapse anyday. The use of language by your son against Ajit Pawar was highly inappropriate,” Rohit told Rajan Patil.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Rajan Patil tendered an apology to Ajit Pawar. ”My son got carried away during the celebrations and used objectionable words. I do not support such behaviour. Ajit Pawar should consider my son as his own son and should forgive him. I apologise to the entire Pawar family,” Rajan Patil said.

Controversy at Angar nagar panchayat

Angar is one of the 42 nagar panchayats that will go to the polls during the Maharashtra local body elections on December 2. All 17 seats of the Angar nagar panchayat have been won unopposed by a panel associated with BJP leader Rajan Patil.

The duel between the NCP and the BJP in Angar flared up after Thite sought to file her nomination paper for the post of president. She initially alleged that she was prevented from filing her papers by BJP workers who blocked her way by placing an array of vehicles on the road.

NCP district chief Umesh Patil then took up the issue with Collector Kumar Ashirwad and Superintendent of Police Atul Kulkarni. After this, amidst heavy police security, Thite filed her nomination form on Monday, the last day for filing it. As many as 200 police personnel ensured security for Thite.

On Tuesday, however, Thite’s nomination was rejected because the form lacked the proposer’s signature. However, Thite and the NCP argued that only one signature was required, and her son, as the proposer, signed on the paper right in front of the election officials.

The district election officials, however, pasted her form on the notice board of the Angar nagar panchayat office, highlighting that there was no signature on the paper.

Thite’s son Jaywant said, “The election officials called out my name and I signed right in front of them. Yet they say I did not sign. This is a blatant lie,” he said.

The NCP said they are ready for a legal fight. ”We are not going to keep quiet. We will take the matter to the court,” said Umesh Patil.

”For more than 60 years, the gram panchayat had unopposed elections, and now they are trying to get an unopposed election in the Nagar panchayat as well. Now, the world has learnt how unopposed elections are taking place. The entire election machinery is in their hand… Democracy is being thrown to the wind,” he alleged.