The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself embroiled in controversy in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) region, facing sharp criticism for practicing the very dynastic politics it has long opposed. The party's decision to allot tickets for the upcoming Nanded Municipal Corporation elections to members of two prominent families has triggered discontent both within its ranks and from opposition parties.
The Families in Focus: Swami Couple and Gadiwale Duo
At the heart of the controversy are two families with deep roots in local politics and a history with the Congress party. Kishor Swami and his wife Shailaja Swami, both former Congress leaders, have received BJP tickets. Kishor Swami will contest from Ward 9, while Shailaja Swami has been nominated from Ward 4. The couple are seasoned politicians; they won on Congress tickets in the 2017 civic elections, with Kishor later serving as the standing committee chairman and Shailaja rising to the position of mayor.
Similarly, the party has fielded Balwant Singh Gadiwale and his son Virendra Gadiwale. Virendra, a former standing committee chairman, will contest from Ward 10, while his father Balwant has been allotted the ticket for Ward 9. The Gadiwales, like the Swamis, were formerly associated with the Congress and have held key positions in the civic body, including mayor and standing committee chairman.
Political Links and Recent Setback
Both families share close ties with former chief minister Ashok Chavan. After Chavan's high-profile switch to the BJP, the Swamis and Gadiwales followed him into the party. Their loyalty was evident during last year's assembly elections when the Swami couple campaigned extensively for Chavan's daughter, Sreejaya, in the Bhokar constituency. Kishor Swami was also entrusted with managing affairs in the Bhokar Municipal Council, where the BJP secured a clear majority.
This development comes just weeks after the party suffered a significant setback in the nearby Loha Municipal Council polls. There, the BJP's decision to field six candidates from a single family backfired spectacularly, with all of them losing their elections. The Nanded ticket distribution has raised fresh questions about the party's learning from that defeat.
Internal Dissent and Opposition Attacks
Political analysts note that while Ashok Chavan reportedly sidelined several other senior leaders who defected from Congress, Kishor and Shailaja Swami were retained and even offered new roles. This perceived favoritism has not gone down well at the grassroots level. There are murmurs of dissatisfaction among BJP workers, who are unhappy about opportunities being concentrated within one circle.
The move has provided ample ammunition to opposition parties, which have accused the BJP of blatant hypocrisy. They are highlighting the contrast between the party's public condemnation of dynastic politics and its actual ticket distribution practices in Nanded. The criticism underscores the ongoing tension between political pragmatism at the local level and ideological consistency at the national level.
The upcoming Nanded Municipal Corporation elections will now be a crucial test for the BJP, not just against its political rivals but also in managing internal expectations and its public image regarding family-based politics.
