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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 4:59:11 pm

BJP expels Amravati rebels

Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party expelled three leaders from Amravati for six years and issued show-cause notices to over 100 corporators in Pune this week for defying party directives during the Maharashtra legislative council elections. The party took these disciplinary actions to neutralize internal rebellion against Mahayuti alliance candidates and enforce organizational rules by mandating written explanations from the Pune representatives within five days. The disciplinary action in...

BJP expels Amravati rebels

Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party expelled three leaders from Amravati for six years and issued show-cause notices to over 100 corporators in Pune this week for defying party directives during the Maharashtra legislative council elections. The party took these disciplinary actions to neutralize internal rebellion against Mahayuti alliance candidates and enforce organizational rules by mandating written explanations from the Pune representatives within five days. The disciplinary action in Amravati stems from the seat-sharing arrangement of the ruling Mahayuti alliance. The Amravati Teachers constituency was allocated to the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which fielded sitting legislator Kiran Sarnaik. Defying this arrangement, BJP leaders Sangita Shinde, Chandrashekhar Bhoyar, and Sumit Pawar filed independent nominations. This rebellion reportedly upset Chief Minister Shinde, prompting his faction to initiate maneuvers to support independent candidate Sachin Sanap against the BJP’s official nominee, Kaustubh Gawde, in the Pune Teachers constituency. Under pressure to salvage alliance unity, the BJP expelled its three Amravati rebels for a period of six years, thereby sending a message of solidarity to the Shiv Sena and attempting to halt retaliatory political moves in Pune. Simultaneously, the BJP faced mass absenteeism in its Pune stronghold. Over 100 corporators skipped the official campaign launch event for the party’s Pune division graduates and teacher’s constituency candidates. The gathering was presided over by BJP state president Ravindra Chavan and attended by Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol, state minister Chandrakant Patil, and Mayor Manjusha Nagpure. Noting the empty chairs, house leader Ganesh Bidkar personally verified the attendance in the hall. The party immediately served show-cause notices to the absent corporators, instructing them to submit a formal clarification within five days. The BJP has 119 elected and seven nominated corporators in the Pune Municipal Corporation, bringing its total strength to 126. A final decision on disciplinary measures will be taken after senior leaders review the submitted explanations. Beyond party discipline, the Amravati Teachers constituency election has drawn attention for a stark shift in campaign methods. Traditionally focused on direct communication with educators regarding their grievances, the election is now characterized by large vehicle convoys, modern campaign mechanisms, and widespread allegations of cash and Paithani saree distribution among voters. A formal complaint has already been registered in Achalpur regarding voter inducement. Despite the influx of money and political muscle, the core demands of the teaching community remain centered on the old pension scheme, grants for unaided schools, and pending salary issues.

Discussions on among allies for govt formation: Ajit Pawar

Correspondent
Nov 26, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Nov 29, 2024

Ajit Pawar

Mumbai: Deputy Chief Minister and NCP head Ajit Pawar on Monday said discussions were underway among the Mahayuti partners to finalise a formula for the new government formation in the state.


Speaking to reporters at Karad in Satara district, Pawar also acknowledged the contribution of the government's Ladki Bahin scheme, which provides financial assistance to women, in the Mahayuti's victory in the just-concluded state assembly polls.


The NCP leader also assured that the alliance was working cohesively following its resounding victory in the state assembly elections.


Pawar paid tributes to Maharashtra's first chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan at his memorial in Karad on his death anniversary.


In the state poll results declared on Saturday, the Mahayuti, which comprises the BJP, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, bagged an impressive 230 of the 288 assembly seats.


The focus has been on BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is being seen as a strong contender to occupy the top post for the third time, as his party bagged 132 of the 149 seats it contested in the state.


Notably, Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar has said his party legislators feel Eknath Shinde should continue as the chief minister of the state, where the ruling Mahayuti scored a landslide victory in the assembly polls.


Ajit Pawar said, "We will decide what formula to work out on the cabinet formation among the three parties."


Reflecting on the elections, he acknowledged the contribution of the Ladki Bahin scheme in the Mahayuti's win.


"We cannot ignore that Ladki Bahin helped us in this election. We are grateful to them (women voters)," he said.


Defending the scheme, Pawar, who is also the state finance minister, further said, "Had I been opposed to the Ladki Bahin scheme, I would not have presented it in the House. I discussed the scheme with several retired finance officers before finalising it."


Pawar also dismissed concerns raised by some opposition leaders over the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), pointing out that polls in states like Punjab, West Bengal and Telangana, governed by their political opponents, have been conducted with the same system.


Commenting on members of same families contesting against each other during the elections, Pawar expressed annoyance over repeated questions on it.


He then asked, "Why was my close nephew fielded? Atram's own daughter was fielded against him, and even Rajendra Shingne faced a similar challenge. I don't want to comment further on this. I have got tired of apologising for fielding my wife against Supriya. Yugendra was in business, then why was he prepared to contest against me?"


In the Baramati assembly seat, Ajit Pawar was pitted against his nephew and NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar.


In Aheri seat, NCP leader Dharamraobaba Atram's daughter Bhagyashree Atram contested against him on NCP (SP) ticket.

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