Mumbai: The arrest of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Shivajirao Kardile in connection with the Ahmednagar murders is yet another example of turncoats putting the ruling party to embarrassment. Mr. Kardile, who had a brief stint with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) before joining the BJP, is the father-in-law of NCP MLA Sangram Jagtap who too has been arrested in the same case.
While Ahmednagar is simmering with tension following the murder of two activists of Shiv Sena, this is another example where BJP has found itself cornered. Despite having Home Department under its watch, the BJP is now forced to arrest its MLA under charges of hatching a criminal conspiracy.
Last month, the party had to distance itself from it’s party’s deputy mayor Shripad Chhindam, again in Ahmednagar, over his remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Mr Chhindam too has had stints in all parties before joining the BJP post-2014.
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In another embarrassing incident, Prashant Paricharak, Independent MLC and a close aide of NCP chief, landed in trouble after he made derogatory statements about the wives of Army jawans, following which he was suspended. Mr. Paricharak has extended support to the BJP in Council and, in an effort to safeguard him, the party had to revoke the suspension. All parties, including ally Shiv Sena forced the government to continue the suspension till the end of Budget session.
Former NCP minister Vijay Kumar Gavit, accused of siphoning tribal funds now represents the BJP from Nandurbar district. A committee under Justice (Retd) M.G. Gaikwad has found him guilty, however no action has been initiated. The BJP, then in opposition, had demanded action against Mr Gavit from the previous Congress-NCP government.
Ashish Deshmukh, BJP’s MLA from Vidarbha region and son of former Maharashtra Congress chief Ranjit Deshmukh, is now seen openly defying party diktats and refusing to attend party programs. Former BJP MP Nana Patole, who recently resigned from the party to join Congress, too had switched side from Congress, few years back. Mr Patole targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi while resigning, embarassing the BJP.
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Pravin Darekar, a former Maharashtra Navanirman Sena MLA heads the Mumbai district central co-operative bank. The bank has been under fire for various irregularities, which were pointed out by NABARD in a confidential report that was leaked few months ago. Mr Darekar, now an MLC from the BJP has faced no action.
“This is the reality of the BJP. In their quest to grab power by any means, they have admitted such leaders who will harm the BJP,” said Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant. Senior BJP minister Ram Shinde said that the party does not protect anyone. “The law will take its own course,” he said.