The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made a sudden U-turn, withdrawing the candidature of Pooja More-Jadhav for the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation elections. The decision, confirmed on 2 January 2026, came after significant internal dissent and a fierce social media campaign targeting the candidate's past statements.
Internal Backlash Forces Nomination Withdrawal
The party had initially announced Pooja More-Jadhav as its candidate from Ward No. 2 in Pune. However, the announcement triggered immediate and vocal opposition from within the party's own ranks. Several BJP workers openly protested her nomination, objecting to her historical comments.
The controversy centered around old videos and social media posts that resurfaced online. These included her initial reaction to the Pahalgam attack and, more critically, past remarks where she was seen criticizing Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The resurfaced content led to a sustained trolling campaign and intense pressure from party cadres, ultimately forcing the leadership's hand.
Union Minister and Pune's BJP MP, Murlidhar Mohol, publicly confirmed the withdrawal of her nomination papers, putting an end to the brewing internal crisis.
Candidate's Defense: A "Victim of Social Media Trolls"
Addressing the media after stepping aside, Pooja More-Jadhav portrayed herself as a victim of a targeted online smear campaign. She detailed her personal and political journey, emphasizing her modest roots and years of activism.
"I have faced police baton charges, criminal cases and frequent court visits. There were times when I did not even have the money to fight legal cases, but I never gave up," she stated, highlighting her background in farmers' movements after moving to Pune post her marriage to Dhananjay Jadhav.
She alleged that widespread misinformation was propagated against her. "They tried to portray that I do not believe in the BJP’s ideology. Considering the trolling, I made a conscious decision to withdraw my nomination," she explained. Interestingly, she also claimed that "some other girl" had made the contentious comments, but trolls had wrongly attributed them to her.
Addressing the Rahul Gandhi Photograph Controversy
More-Jadhav also took the opportunity to clarify another point of criticism—a photograph with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. She asserted that the picture was taken in a purely professional context during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, when she met him to submit a memorandum concerning farmers' issues.
Despite the very public setback, she reiterated her unwavering commitment to the party. "I am a fighter. I will continue to work for the BJP and remain committed to Hindutva," Pooja More-Jadhav declared, signaling her intent to remain an active party worker despite the withdrawal of her candidacy.
The episode underscores the potent influence of social media narratives and internal party dynamics in shaping political candidacies in modern Indian politics, especially in high-stakes urban civic polls.
