In a major pre-emptive strike ahead of crucial municipal elections in Maharashtra, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a significant disciplinary drive, expelling and suspending dozens of party functionaries across multiple cities. The action targets individuals accused of rebellion, violating party norms, or engaging in activities deemed harmful to the party's electoral prospects.
Mass Expulsion in Jalgaon Ahead of Polls
The party's crackdown was most severe in Jalgaon, where the local unit expelled a total of 27 current and former office-bearers and workers. Deepak Suryavanshi, President of the BJP's Jalgaon city unit, confirmed the decisive move. A senior party office-bearer explained that the expelled members were expected to adhere to party policies, but their actions were found to have damaged the party's image and disrupted organisational discipline.
The expulsion orders are effective for six years. Another senior leader revealed that the decision followed thorough discussions after reports of their activities surfaced. The primary charge was challenging the official nominees of the BJP and its alliance partners, the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The list of those expelled includes notable names such as Jitendra Marathe, Sangita Patil, Harshada Amol Sangore, Dhanashree Baviskar, and Ranjana Sapkale, among others.
Suspensions in Solapur as Fadnavis Rally Nears
In Solapur, the party suspended 28 workers, including former deputy mayor Rajesh Kale and six former corporators like Vaibhav Hatture and Rajashri Chavan. This mass suspension came just days before a campaign rally by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the city.
The action followed a warning from state BJP president Ravindra Chavan, who told rebels to withdraw their candidatures or face suspension. Acting on this, Solapur city BJP president Rohini Tadwalkar issued the suspension order. The BJP is contesting all 102 seats in the Solapur Municipal Corporation. Tadwalkar stated that while it was impossible to give tickets to all aspirants, the party expected workers to maintain discipline. Instead, some rebelled, joined other parties, or worked against official candidates.
Action Extends to Malegaon
The disciplinary wave also reached the Malegaon Municipal Corporation. Here, the party suspended Vivek Warule, who is contesting as an independent from ward number 9, and Nitin Pophale, the head of the party's North Maharashtra office, who is running from ward number 10. These steps underscore the party's zero-tolerance approach towards indiscipline as it gears up for high-stakes urban local body elections.
The sweeping actions in Jalgaon, Solapur, and Malegaon highlight the BJP's strategy to enforce strict discipline and present a united front. By removing elements perceived as rebellious, the party aims to streamline its campaign and prevent internal sabotage, signaling its intent to secure victories in the upcoming civic polls through a consolidated organisational effort.
