In a strategic shift aimed at quelling potential internal dissent, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Pune unit is discreetly managing its candidate selection for the upcoming civic polls through personal communications, deliberately holding back its official candidate list. This move comes as the party, confident of a second consecutive victory in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), grapples with the challenge of accommodating over 2,500 aspirants for just 165 electoral wards.
A "Problem of Plenty" and the Stealth Nomination Drive
The BJP, which has bolstered its ranks by inducting leaders from rival parties, is currently navigating a delicate situation. With the nomination filing deadline closing on Tuesday afternoon, the party has chosen to personally contact its chosen candidates, urging them to file their papers without a public announcement. Ganesh Bidkar, the BJP's convenor for the Pune civic polls and a candidate himself, confirmed filing his nomination after receiving an official letter from the party. He expressed gratitude to senior leaders, including the Chief Minister, for the opportunity.
An internal party office-bearer revealed that "the party has called up official candidates personally and asked them to file their nomination." This behind-the-scenes approach is a direct response to the overwhelming number of applications, a scenario insiders describe as a "problem of plenty." The party has also had to set aside a share of seats for its alliance partners, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Republican Party of India (Athawale).
Alliance Strain and Opposition Strategy
The BJP's cautious strategy hasn't been without friction. Tensions surfaced on Monday when workers from the RPI(A) held a protest outside the city BJP office. They accused their alliance partner of "fooling" them, citing a lack of clarity on the number of seats allotted to their party even as BJP candidates proceeded with nominations.
Meanwhile, sensing an opportunity, the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has indicated it will also delay announcing its final list. This tactic is part of a calculated plan to attract disgruntled rebels from the BJP and its allies, offering them tickets to contest on the NCP symbol wherever possible. A BJP source acknowledged this risk, stating, "It was obvious that there will be disappointed leaders... A few may jump to other political parties."
Key Candidates and Electoral Timeline
Among the early filers are BJP's Yogesh Mulick and Mahesh Wabale, along with Shiv Sena's Ulhas Bagul. The electoral process is moving swiftly, with polling scheduled for January 15 and the vote count set for January 16. This election is crucial for the BJP, which had won 98 seats in the 2017 PMC polls, falling short of its ambitious target of 125 wards. The party now aims to secure a more decisive mandate, but its immediate challenge remains managing the expectations of thousands of hopefuls and maintaining a stable alliance front.
