The induction of senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde into the Union Cabinet has sparked talk of a change of guard within the Maharashtra BJP. However, State leaders clarified on Thursday that Mr. Munde would lead the BJP’s campaign for the Assembly elections in October. “We will fight the Assembly elections under Mr. Munde. The leader of our party in the State legislature will be chosen after the polls,” said BJP leader Vinod Tawde, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council.
The BJP’s Lok Sabha campaign in Maharashtra was led by Mr. Munde, who took the initiative to stitch up alliances with three smaller parties.
The run-up to the polls saw an open feud between Mr. Munde and former BJP president Nitin Gadkari.