NCP(SP)’s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP
The BJP office-bearers said if those who are coming into the party are given prime posts, it will mean injustice to those who have been serving the party for a long time.
Sanjog Waghere (left) and Rahul Kalate (right). (File Photo) 
Even as parties gear up to campaign for the civic body elections, two top political leaders have decided to switch sides and join the BJP, which is aiming to return to power in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. NCP(SP) leader Rahul Kalate and Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjog Waghere are likely to join BJP in the coming days.
“I have resigned from Shiv Sena (UBT) and will soon be joining the BJP. The joining might happen tomorrow or in the coming days. The timing has not been fixed,” Waghere said on Friday.
Kalate, however, refused to reveal the details about his joining BJP. “Wait for sometime, you will come to know everything,” he told The Indian Express.
Close associates of Kalate said the joining may happen at any given time as a section of the BJP in Pimpri-Chinchwad is strongly opposed to him. BJP leaders in Pimpri-Chinchwad on Thursday held a press conference and opposed the possible entry of Kalate into the party. They accused Kalate of being a party-hopper. The leaders said if Kalate is allowed to enter BJP, the image of BJP will take a beating. BJP office-bearers said if prime posts are given to new comers, it would be an injustice to those who have been serving the party for a long time.
The leaders said Kalate has changed parties as per his convenience. “He has never been loyal to any party. He has been changing parties to suit his political convenience. He has even beaten up an RSS office-bearer and a PCMC officer and therefore we are opposed to his entry into the party,” they said. Among others present at the press conference included BJP city vice-presidents Vishal Kalate, Ram Wakadkar, BJO OBC cell city president Chetan Bhujbal and other leaders like Bharati Vinode, Srinivas Kalate, Navnath Dhavale, Amol Kalate.
The Kalate Camp, however, said despite the opposition towards him, BJP’s top leadership are keen he is entering the party. His associates said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has himself given Kalate a go ahead. “Even Ajit Pawar had called up, but he refused to join NCP in view of the bitter experience in the past,” a close aide said.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Waghere, who was earlier in Congress and then in NCP, said, “I won’t be returning to NCP. In view of my political future, I have decided to join BJP. In future, the assembly seats would be increased in Pimpri-Chinchwad and therefore I will get an opportunity to contest the elections.” Waghere has served as the mayor of Pimpri-Chinchwad. He had contested the Lok Sabha elections last year from Maval but had lost to Appa Barne of Shiv Sena.
Kalate on the other hand had started his career from Congress, then joined NCP, Shiv Sena and NCP (SP). He had thrice lost the elections from Chinchwad assembly seat.
Share
