In a significant political development ahead of crucial civic elections, two prominent leaders from rival parties in the Pimpri-Chinchwad region are poised to switch allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This move, however, has ignited a fierce internal conflict within the local BJP unit, with veteran members expressing strong dissent.
Defections Ahead of Civic Polls
Sanjoy Waghere, formerly of the Shiv Sena (UBT), and Rahul Kalate of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) are expected to formally join the BJP in the coming days. The BJP aims to strengthen its position to reclaim power in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Waghere confirmed his resignation from Shiv Sena (UBT) on Sunday, December 19, 2025, stating his joining could happen imminently. "I have resigned... and will soon be joining the BJP. The joining might happen tomorrow or in the coming days," Waghere told The Indian Express.
Kalate, on the other hand, remained cryptic about his plans, asking to "wait for some time," but close associates confirmed his imminent shift. Both leaders bring considerable political heft; Waghere is a former mayor of Pimpri-Chinchwad and contested the Lok Sabha elections from Maval in 2024, while Kalate is a well-known figure who has contested the Chinchwad assembly seat multiple times.
Internal BJP Rebellion Against New Entries
The potential induction, especially of Rahul Kalate, has met with stiff resistance from the BJP's local leadership. In a press conference held on Thursday, a group of senior BJP office-bearers vocally opposed Kalate's entry, labeling him a "party-hopper" whose inclusion would damage the party's image.
"He has never been loyal to any party. He has been changing parties to suit his political convenience," the leaders alleged. They further accused him of past incidents, including assaulting an RSS office-bearer and a PCMC officer. The core of their grievance revolves around the principle of rewarding loyalty. The BJP leaders argued that giving prime posts to new entrants would be an injustice to those who have served the party for decades.
Prominent figures at this protest included BJP city vice-presidents Vishal Kalate and Ram Wakadkar, OBC cell city president Chetan Bhujbal, and other leaders like Bharati Vinode and Srinivas Kalate.
High-Level Backing and Political Calculations
Despite the local uproar, the Kalate camp claims he has received a green signal from the BJP's top leadership, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. An aide revealed that Kalate had even declined an offer from Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's NCP due to past "bitter experience." This indicates a calculated move by the state BJP leadership to consolidate influence in the industrial belt ahead of the polls.
For Sanjoy Waghere, the move is a strategic decision for his political future. He cited the anticipated increase in assembly seats in Pimpri-Chinchwad as a key reason, hoping it would provide him a platform to contest elections. Having been in the Congress and NCP earlier, this marks another significant shift in his political journey.
Rahul Kalate's career trajectory mirrors the fluid nature of Maharashtra's politics, having moved from Congress to NCP, then to Shiv Sena, and later to NCP(SP) before this planned jump to the BJP.
The impending joinings underscore the intense political realignments occurring in Maharashtra as parties prepare for the upcoming civic elections. The internal rift within the Pimpri-Chinchwad BJP highlights the delicate balance the party must strike between importing influential leaders to win elections and maintaining the morale of its dedicated grassroots workforce. How this conflict is resolved will significantly impact the BJP's cohesion and campaign in the crucial PCMC polls.
