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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.

Knives out in legislature

Writer: Abhijit Mulye
Abhijit Mulye
Mar 20, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Mar 21, 2025

Disha Salian

Mumbai: Death of celebrity manager Disha Salian in 2020 once again rocked the Maharashtra legislature on Thursday. While cabinet ministers Nitesh Rane and Shambhuraj Desai demanded that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray be arrested in the case, BJP MLA Amit Satam in the assembly and another BJP member Chitra Wagh in the council demanded that the report of SIT to probe Salian’s death be made public.


Incidentally, amidst repeated disruptions in both the houses, some members from the treasury benches were seen speaking in favour of Aditya Thackeray, while Shiv Sena (UBT) members like Adv Anil Parab were seen supporting the BJP members’ demand that the report of the SIT probe be made public. In addition, there were allegations and counter allegations and personal accusations among members from the treasury and opposition benches which led to heated debate on occasions.


The opposition termed the attempts from the treasury benches to link Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray’s name in the case, as a ‘conspiracy’.


“I think this matter has gone to the court. We have no idea what he (Disha’s father) has said, but Aaditya Thackeray is a mature leader, a young leader. The Bharatiya Janata Party is conspiring to defame him by putting pressure on him. We don’t need to answer to this conspiracy. The court will answer,” Ambadas Danve said.


Earlier in the day, when the house gathered for the business, Minister of State for Home appraised the assembly of the status in this case. “SIT has been formed to probe in the case. Their report has not been received as yet. However, the government shall act according to directives from the court,” the minister told the house.


Another BJP minister Nitesh Rane, however, said that since Satish Salian has levelled allegations against an MVA minister, that leader be treated like a common person and that everybody should be treated equally before the law. Shiv Sena minister Shambhuraj Desai too supported the demand. “Since the allegations are grave, the person in question should be immediately arrested and the case be investigated,” he said.


Later, while speaking to media in the legislature premises, Rane asked Uddhav Thackeray to come clean on the issue. “If they say that we are politicizing the issue, Uddhav Thackeray should also tell the people why he had called, not just once but twice, to the then union minister Narayan Rane urging him to save his son?” Rane said.


He also accused the opposition of shying away from coming clean on the issue. “If they feel that we are not telling the truth, they should say so in the house. But they are shying away from doing so. Bhaskar Jadhav, who is always aggressive, was nowhere to be seen when this issue came up in the house. Sunil Prabhu too escaped the house under the pretext of a phone call. I challenge them to say that whatever I said on the issue is wrong,” Rane said.


He also said that Aditya Thackeray should resign on moral grounds till his name is cleared in the case.


BJP MLA Amit Satam demanded that the details of the SIT probe be made public so that the people would know if the probe is headed in right direction.


Interestingly, while the ruling parties were targeting the opposition in the case, senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar surprised all with his unexpected support to Thackerays. “I do not have any evidences in the case. But if her father has made any fresh allegations that needs to be investigated thoroughly. The assembly can discuss the issue at length tomorrow. In the meanwhile, members like Rane, who seem to have some evidences in the case should hand them over to the investigating agencies and help the probe,” he told the house.


Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Gaikwad and Sheetal Mhatre too toed the line and demanded that more and more evidences should come forth.


Similarly, when members of treasury benches were pushing for revealing the details of the probe till date to the public, Shiv Sena (UBT) member Anil Parab supported the demand. “Doing that shall conclusively prove the innocence of Aditya Thackeray,” he said.

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