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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Victory in the streets, vacuum in the office

State BJP without official body since over 8 months Mumbai: Despite a crushing wave of victories across Maharashtra’s urban and rural landscape, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself in a peculiar state of organizational paralysis. More than eight months after Ravindra Chavan officially took the reins as State President from Chandrashekhar Bawankule in July 2025, the party has failed to constitute its state executive body, exposing deep-seated internal friction and a...

Victory in the streets, vacuum in the office

State BJP without official body since over 8 months Mumbai: Despite a crushing wave of victories across Maharashtra’s urban and rural landscape, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself in a peculiar state of organizational paralysis. More than eight months after Ravindra Chavan officially took the reins as State President from Chandrashekhar Bawankule in July 2025, the party has failed to constitute its state executive body, exposing deep-seated internal friction and a deadlock with the central leadership in Delhi. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited Delhi twice this week. On Friday he also called on the newly elected national party president Nitin Nabin. Though it is being speculated that the meeting might lead to political realignment in the state, real question is whether it will bring to the tracks the derailed organizational appointments of the state party unit. The primary catalyst for this administrative limbo is said to be a strict directive from the BJP high command. In a bid to ensure that elected representatives remain laser-focused on their constituencies ahead of the 2029 cycle, the party leadership has mandated that no sitting MLA should be appointed as an organizational office bearer. While logically sound, this "one person, one post" enforcement has drained the pool of seasoned leaders available for the state body. State President Ravindra Chavan, himself an MLA from Dombivli, is reportedly struggling to balance the requirement for experienced "organizational engines" with the demand for fresh, non-legislative faces. The friction has reportedly peaked over the appointment of a specific former minister who lost his seat during the 2024 Lok Sabha debacle. Sources indicate this leader, who feels sidelined after being denied a cabinet berth in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, is lobbying aggressively for the powerful post of State General Secretary. However, the Delhi high command remains unimpressed. Citing his recent electoral loss and a "cloud of controversy" surrounding his previous tenure, the central leadership has twice rejected the list of office bearers submitted by the state unit. This tug-of-war has effectively stalled the entire process, as the state unit is hesitant to move forward without accommodating senior loyalists. The irony of the situation is not lost on political observers. The organizational delay comes at a time when the BJP’s "election machine" is performing at its peak. While demonstrating its civic dominance, in the January 2026 municipal elections, the BJP swept 1,425 out of 2,869 seats across 29 corporations, including a historic victory in the BMC. It also demonstrated its rural surge in the recently concluded Zilla Parishad polls, where the party emerged as the single largest entity, winning 225 of 731 seats. "The party is winning on the strength of the 'Fadnavis-Chavan' duo and the Mahayuti's momentum, but the skeletal structure of the organization is missing. We have generals and soldiers, but no mid-level commanders," noted a senior party strategist on the condition of anonymity. When questioned about the delay, Ravindra Chavan’s office has maintained a disciplined silence. Staffers decline to provide a timeline, merely stating that "consultations are ongoing." This lack of a formal state body means that key wings of the party—including the Youth, Women, and Kisan Morchas—are operating without a full set of sanctioned leaders. While the BJP continues to win elections through centralized command, the simmering discontent among senior leaders who feel "abandoned" by the high command's new rules could pose a challenge to long-term internal harmony.

‘Ajit dada was to lead unified NCP from Feb 12’

Mumbai: Just as the dust seemed to be settling on the failed attempts to merge the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a fresh controversy has erupted, reigniting the political drama. In a startling revelation, NCP (SP) State President Shashikant Shinde has claimed that a secret deal had already been finalized to hand over the entire command of a unified party to the late Ajit Pawar—an announcement that was reportedly scheduled for February 12.


Shinde’s comments have added a sensational twist to the post-tragedy narrative, painting the late Deputy Chief Minister not as a rebel, but as a leader who was on the verge of a "homecoming" before tragedy struck.


In commemorative editorial of a party magazine, Shashikant Shinde sought to rewrite the history of the split that fractured the Pawar family. He alleged that Ajit Pawar’s exit from the original NCP was never voluntary but was forced by threats and conspiracies orchestrated by "invisible powers"—a veiled reference to the BJP’s central leadership.


Shinde further claimed that discussions for a merger were in advanced stages. In fact, a final decision had been reached in the presence of Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar and other senior leaders. It was agreed that once the factions merged, the entire command of the unified NCP would be handed over to Ajit Pawar. The formal announcement was to be made on February 12.


Shinde’s narrative attempts to position the NCP (SP) as the true custodian of Ajit Pawar’s legacy, suggesting that the late leader was ready to return to his uncle’s fold to lead the party into the future, had fate not intervened.


Tatkare’s Rebuttal

The claims were swiftly dismissed by the rival camp. NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) State President Sunil Tatkare rubbished Shinde’s version of events, categorizing them as emotional manipulation devoid of facts.


"There is no point in discussing imaginary scenarios," Tatkare said. "We are a part of the Mahayuti government, and our path was chosen by Ajit Dada himself."

However, Tatkare stopped short of a complete shut-door policy, adding a caveat that keeps the political grapevine buzzing. "If they are so serious about a merger, let them stop making statements to the media. The issue of merger can be discussed only if a proposal comes in writing from those advocating it," he asserted.

Political analysts view Shashikant Shinde’s "February 12" claim as a strategic move by the Sharad Pawar faction to absolve Ajit Pawar by blaming "invisible powers" for the split. In doing so, they are trying to reclaim Ajit Pawar’s image from the BJP-aligned faction. Also, by suggesting that Ajit Pawar was ready to leave the NDA and return to Sharad Pawar, they aim to sow confusion among the MLAs currently supporting Sunetra Pawar.

As the "merger" moves from backroom talks to public spats, the war of words proves that while the possibility of unity may be bleak, the battle for the NCP’s soul is far from over.

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