BJP Takes Strict Action in Nashik, Expels Dozens of Members
The Bharatiya Janata Party's city unit in Nashik has made a decisive move. It has expelled a significant number of prominent members from the party for a period of six years. This action comes after the party identified these individuals as being involved in activities that directly opposed the party's interests.
Reasons for Expulsion Include Protests and Electoral Challenges
The expulsions are primarily linked to two key issues. First, several members actively opposed the tree felling project in the Tapovan area. This project is part of the city's development plans. Second, many of those expelled chose to contest elections against the official candidates nominated by the BJP. This was seen as a direct challenge to the party's authority and unity.
BJP city unit president Sunil Kedar personally signed the expulsion letters for each member. He explained the party's stance clearly. "We were trying to avoid this action," Kedar stated. "We had requested all of them to change their position, as it was harming the party in the corporation elections. Since they refused to comply, we had no choice but to expel them."
List of Expelled Members Exceeds Corporation Strength
The scale of this expulsion is notable. The list of expelled individuals far exceeds the total number of corporators elected to the Nashik Municipal Corporation in 2017, which was 66 members. This indicates a widespread purge within the local party ranks.
Among the expelled are several high-profile names:
- Ashok Murtadak, a former mayor who recently joined the BJP but failed to get a party ticket. He is now contesting as an independent with support from Shiv Sena.
- Amit Ghuge, a long-time party functionary and office-bearer who was denied a ticket and decided to contest independently.
- Former corporators including Kamlesh Bodke, Satish (Bapu) Sonawane, Shashikant Jadhav, Mukesh Shahane, and Vanda Manchanda.
- Rohan Deshpande, a former MNS functionary who joined the BJP and was part of the party's think-tank in the Nashik Road area. He is leading the Save Tapovan campaign against the felling of 1,700 trees for development projects.
Party Stands Firm on Development Agenda
Kedar emphasized that the party has a clear agenda, especially regarding environmental issues. "In the case of Rohan Deshpande, the party clearly shared its agenda on trees and the plantation drive already started by the corporation," he said. "Since he is not ready to accept the party stand, he has no place in the party."
Many of the expelled members, such as Mukesh Shahane, Satish Sonawane, Shashikant Jadhav, Amit Ghuge, and Ashok Murtadak, are now contesting elections either as independents or by joining opposition parties. "We, therefore, expelled them," Kedar added, underscoring the party's zero-tolerance policy towards such actions.
This mass expulsion highlights the internal tensions within the BJP's Nashik unit as it prepares for upcoming elections. The party is taking a hard line to maintain discipline and ensure that all members align with its official positions and candidates.
