Pune: A spate of defections of top Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and internal disputes has caused a discord among the BJP leaders.
The defections, which began from October last year, are expected to drive the BJP to a majority in the polls.
According to the party’s internal survey, it is prepared to take control over the NCP’s stronghold Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Some estimates say that the BJP will get more than 60 seats, while some predict a sweep, claiming anywhere between 75-80 seats in the 128-member civic body.
However, the BJP legislators feel that the ‘upstarts’ and the recent inductees in the party will demand tickets in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, if they become corporators after the civic polls.
BJP legislator from Kothrud, Medha Kulkarni is wary of former BJP corporator Ujjwal Keskar, while BJP MLA from Shivajingar Vijay Kale has been actively quashing down the candidature of Siddharth Shirole, the son of BJP MP Anil Shirole, for the upcoming polls, on grounds of ‘dynastic politics’.
Likewise, sources say that BJP MLA from Vadgaon Sheri, Jagdish Mulik is opposed to the inclusion of the Shiv Sena’s Sunil Tingare into the party. Mr. Mulik had a close contest with Mr. Tingare during the 2014 Assembly polls, with Mr. Mulik winning by a narrow margin.
Similarly, Khadakwasla legislator Bhimrao Tapkir is wary of senior Congress leader and former Deputy Mayor Prasanna Jagtap, who joined the BJP early last month.
According to sources, Mr. Tapkir is leaving no stone unturned in shooting down Mr. Jagtap’s possible candidacy.
“The BJP is desperately seeking to supplant the NCP in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. So, it will look for candidates with the potential to win seats instead of attempting to soothe resentments among the party loyalists,” election observer Harshal Lohokare said.
