The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) recent decision to form electoral alliances for upcoming civic body polls in Maharashtra has triggered significant unease within its own ranks, with party workers and allies expressing feelings of being sidelined.
Booth-Level Workers Feel Overlooked
BJP MLA Sanjay Kelkar, on Wednesday, openly stated that numerous party workers are feeling marginalized. This sentiment arose after the BJP finalized alliances with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction for civic elections in key regions like Thane, Mumbai, and Kalyan. These tie-ups, concluded after extended negotiations, have unsettled the local cadres who have dedicated years to building the party's presence at the grassroots booth level.
"The BJP has spent the last eight years strengthening its organisation at the booth level. We are not satisfied with the alliance because it did not meet our expectations," Kelkar told PTI. He emphasized that BJP members were keen to contest the elections, and "when they are denied a chance, it naturally becomes an obstacle."
Allied Parties Voice Betrayal
The discontent is not limited to the BJP's internal cadre. A key ally in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, has also signaled strong dissatisfaction. He stated that his Republican Party of India (Athawale) or RPI(A) was excluded from the seat-sharing arrangement between the BJP and Shiv Sena for the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.
Athawale termed the move a "betrayal of trust." He clarified that while the alliance decided to allot seven seats to the RPI(A), none were from the party's own proposed list. "There should have been discussions if there were any problems... Now, we have decided to contest on 38 seats, and we will support the BJP and Shiv Sena on other seats," he declared.
Post-Meeting Demands and Future Implications
Following his public statements, Athawale later met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. In this meeting, he submitted a list of demands seeking to address the perceived slight. The demands reportedly included:
- Allocation of 5–6 seats in the civic polls.
- One seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC).
- Positions in various state-run corporations.
- Assured representation in future local body elections.
The open expression of discontent from both within the BJP and from a long-standing ally highlights the complex challenges of managing coalition politics and rewarding grassroots work. It underscores the delicate balance party leadership must strike between strategic electoral alliances and maintaining the morale of its dedicated ground-level workforce. The outcome of these civic polls and the resolution of these internal grievances will be closely watched for their impact on the NDA's cohesion in Maharashtra.
