The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) preparations for the upcoming Pune civic polls were thrown into disarray on Thursday, January 2, 2026, as the party was compelled to ask two of its candidates to withdraw their nominations following intense opposition from its own rank-and-file workers.
Internal Rebellion Forces Candidate Changes
Facing severe backlash from its cadre for fielding new entrants, the city BJP unit made its candidate, Pooja More-Jadhav, step back from the electoral fray. The decision was announced by Union Minister and city MP, Murlidhar Mohol.
"Party workers were upset over giving candidature to her. They insisted loyal party workers should be given candidature but not her. Therefore, she was asked to withdraw and the party decided to support another Independent candidate in place of her," Mohol stated, confirming the internal discord.
A Second Withdrawal Sparks Anger Among Loyalists
In a parallel development that further exposed the party's internal tensions, Sujata Kakade, the wife of BJP loyalist and office-bearer Rajendra Kakade, was also instructed to withdraw her nomination. This move came as the party reversed its decision to instead award the ticket to the wife of former corporator, Samrat Thorat.
This abrupt change did not sit well with the Kakade family. Rajendra Kakade expressed his profound disappointment, stating, "If the party did not want to give candidature then it should have conveyed it clearly. It is insulting to first give candidature and then ask the candidate to withdraw from the fray. This is not the treatment loyalists accept from the party. Loyal party workers are very angry."
Candidates React to the Setback
Pooja More-Jadhav, reacting to her withdrawal, claimed she fell victim to a false social media campaign. "I am from a poor family. I was fighting for the cause of farmers in Beed and highlighted farmers' issues during Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra," she said.
She further added, "I got married eight months ago and came to Pune. I have been working on Hindutva issues since then. I will continue to work for Hindutva and BJP," while acknowledging the hurt caused by being made to withdraw.
The sentiment of discontent among the party's core supporters was echoed by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni, who confirmed that loyal party workers were deeply upset by the unfolding events.
These last-minute withdrawals highlight the significant internal challenges and factional pressures within the Pune BJP as it gears up for a fiercely contested election. The episode underscores the delicate balance the party leadership must maintain between rewarding loyalty and introducing new faces, a tension that has now spilled into public view just weeks before the polls.
