The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has postponed the release of its first list of candidates for the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections, a move attributed to internal party discontent and unresolved seat-sharing negotiations with its ally, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The list, which was scheduled for announcement on Friday, is now expected in the next couple of days.
Internal Discord and Alliance Talks Cause Delay
Sources within the party revealed that the decision to hold back the list was a strategic one, aimed at quelling growing dissatisfaction among ticket hopefuls. The delay also stems from the party's inability to finalize a seat-sharing formula with alliance partner Shiv Sena. A key source stated, "even after the discussions, the party preferred not to declare the list as there was no consensus on some seats."
This development follows a crucial meeting in Mumbai chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis two days ago, which was attended by the party's city unit office bearers, including sitting MLAs. The purpose was to finalize the candidate names for the crucial civic polls.
High Stakes and Fears of Defection
The BJP has witnessed an overwhelming response from aspirants, having interviewed more than 2,300 individuals, including office bearers and former corporators. A former BJP corporator highlighted the intense competition, suggesting the leadership may be deliberately waiting to announce the list just a couple of days before the nomination deadline to prevent defections. "The chances of aspirants jumping to other parties after finding their names missing from the list cannot be ruled out," he cautioned.
A senior BJP politician acknowledged the stiff competition for tickets, admitting that some workers would face disappointment. However, he expressed confidence that all party workers would ultimately unite to ensure victory in the PMC polls.
Leadership Assurance and New Joinees
Contrary to the reports of discord, Pune MP Muralidhar Mohol asserted on Saturday that the candidate list would be announced soon and downplayed any differences. "The names will be declared soon. Even the talks with BJP's alliance partner Shiv Sena are underway, and a deal will be reached soon," Mohol stated.
In a related development, the BJP bolstered its ranks with the induction of two prominent former corporators on Saturday. Dilip Barate, a senior NCP member and former standing committee chairman, and Abhijit Shivarkar, son of former Congress minister Balasaheb Shivarkar, joined the party in the presence of MP Muralidhar Mohol and city unit head Dheeraj Ghate. While Shivarkar represented Wanowrie between 2007 and 2012, Barate is a seasoned political figure from Warje with three decades of activity in Pune's political arena.
The first list is anticipated to contain between 50 to 60 names, setting the stage for a highly contested election for India's one of the most significant municipal corporations.
