In a major disciplinary crackdown ahead of crucial municipal elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expelled 58 of its functionaries from Mumbai and Nagpur for a period of six years. The action, taken for breaches of party discipline, comes just before the January 15 elections for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra.
Major Purge Ahead of Polls
The expulsion of these prominent workers, which includes former mayors and councilors, underscores the intense internal friction affecting major political coalitions in the state. According to party sources cited by PTI, the leaders were punished for defying official nominees, damaging the party’s reputation, and refusing to support candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Of the 58 expelled, 26 are from Mumbai. The list features notable names such as Divya Dhole (Ward 60), Nehal Amar Shah (Ward 177), Janhavi Rane (Ward 205), and Asawari Patil, who is now contesting from Ward 2 with the Shiv Sena (UBT). Others include Mohan Ambekar (Ward 166) and Dhanashree Baghel (Ward 131).
In Nagpur, 32 individuals have been ousted. This group includes Vinayak Dehankar, the spouse of former mayor Archana Dehankar, alongside former representatives Sunil Agrawal and Dheeraj Chavan. The formal dismissal orders in Nagpur were issued by the city's BJP chief, Dayashankar Tiwari.
Electoral Fever and Alliance Tensions
The political atmosphere in Maharashtra is at a fever pitch as parties prepare for high-stakes contests, including for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The current election cycle is marked by unusual hostility, with partners within both the Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliances sometimes competing independently or forming unexpected local pacts.
This internal strife has forced parties like the BJP to take stern measures to ensure discipline and a unified front during the polls.
BJP's Development Pitch for Mira Bhayandar
Amidst the disciplinary actions, the BJP is also actively campaigning on development agendas. The party unveiled its manifesto for the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) polls, also scheduled for January 15.
Titled 'Resolve for the Development of Mira-Bhayandar', the manifesto was released by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP President Ravindra Chavan, and local MLA Narendra Mehta at a campaign rally on Friday.
The document outlines a vision to transform the area into a modern, secure, and ecologically sustainable smart city. Key promises include:
- Construction of over 100 new concrete roads to create a pothole-free environment.
- Building a new 300-bed civil hospital and modernizing the existing Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Hospital.
- Expanding public transport with new bus fleets and a regulated shared rickshaw network.
- Completing major infrastructure projects like the Metro rail expansion, Dahisar-Bhayander Link Road, and Jesal Park-Ghodbunder Coastal Road to cut travel time to Mumbai.
- Ensuring 24-hour water supply through the Surya Project and a new 75 MLD water initiative.
- Launching initiatives to curb air and noise pollution.
The manifesto also highlighted the benefits of a 'triple engine' governance model, leveraging the BJP's power at the Centre and State to fast-track local development projects. In Mira Bhayandar, the BJP is in a direct contest with its Mahayuti partner, the Shiv Sena, for control of the civic administration.
The twin developments—a strict disciplinary purge and a detailed development manifesto—highlight the BJP's two-pronged strategy as it navigates a complex and heated electoral battle for control of Maharashtra's urban local bodies.
