Political Firestorm in Angar After Nomination Rejection
A fresh political crisis has erupted within Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti coalition after the dramatic rejection of NCP candidate Ujwala Thite's nomination for the president post of Angar nagar panchayat in Solapur district. The development has exposed the deepening rift between alliance partners BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, with BJP workers openly celebrating the election setback for their coalition partner.
Celebrations and Confrontations
The political tension reached its peak on Tuesday evening when election officials declared Thite's nomination papers invalid. Within moments, BJP workers and leaders burst into wild celebrations, with videos of their jubilant reactions quickly going viral on social media platforms.
Balraje Patil, son of former NCP MLA Rajan Patil who recently switched to BJP, didn't mince words while taunting Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. "Ajit Pawar, you can go against everyone, but don't try it with us," he declared in a statement that has further intensified the political feud.
The rejection has effectively cleared the path for BJP nominee Prajakta Patil, who is the daughter-in-law of Rajan Patil, to become the president of Angar nagar panchayat unopposed. This local body was recently converted from a gram panchayat to a nagar panchayat.
NCP's Strong Reaction and Legal Battle
The NCP has responded with fury to what they perceive as BJP's unfair tactics. NCP chief spokesperson Suraj Chavan issued a stern warning, stating, "Those who are taunting us and indulging in wild celebrations will soon be bending down." He accused the BJP of winning local elections through questionable means.
NCP leader Amol Mitkari echoed similar sentiments, asserting that "The BJP leader and his son will get a befitting reply." However, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has maintained a cautious stance, saying he would collect all relevant information before commenting on the matter.
The controversy has even drawn reaction from Rohit Pawar of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction, who strongly objected to the language used against Ajit Pawar during the BJP celebrations.
The Nomination Controversy Unfolded
The conflict began when Thite attempted to file her nomination papers for the presidential post. She initially alleged that BJP workers blocked her way by placing vehicles on the road to prevent her from submitting her papers. Following NCP district chief Umesh Patil's intervention with Collector Kumar Ashirwad and Superintendent of Police Atul Kulkarni, Thite finally filed her nomination on Monday under heavy police security involving 200 police personnel.
However, her nomination was rejected on Tuesday because the form allegedly lacked the proposer's signature. Thite and the NCP have contested this decision, arguing that only one signature was required and that her son, Jaywant, signed the paper in front of election officials.
"The election officials called out my name and I signed right in front of them. Yet they say I did not sign. This is a blatant lie," Jaywant stated emphatically.
The district election officials, however, displayed Thite's form on the notice board of the Angar nagar panchayat office, highlighting the absence of the signature.
Broader Political Implications
Angar is among the 42 nagar panchayats scheduled to go to polls during the Maharashtra local body elections on December 2. Significantly, all 17 seats of the Angar nagar panchayat have been won unopposed by a panel associated with BJP leader Rajan Patil.
Umesh Patil has alleged a pattern of undemocratic practices, pointing out that "For more than 60 years, the gram panchayat had unopposed elections, and now they are trying to get an unopposed election in the Nagar panchayat as well."
The NCP has vowed to fight the decision legally. "We are not going to keep quiet. We will take the matter to the court," declared Umesh Patil, accusing the election machinery of being compromised and democracy being undermined.
This incident represents one of the most public displays of tension within the Mahayuti coalition and could have significant implications for the alliance's stability as Maharashtra approaches crucial local body elections.
