In a fiery address to party workers, Bharatiya Janata Party's Maharashtra state president Ravindra Chavan launched a scathing critique of the prevailing political culture in Ulhasnagar, directly taking aim at the influential Kalani family ahead of the crucial Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) elections. Chavan positioned the upcoming polls as a decisive battle between the old guard of 'goondaraj' and a new era of development-oriented, clean leadership represented by the BJP.
A "Selfish Alliance" Exposed
Without explicitly naming the Kalanis, Chavan dissected their local-level electoral understanding with the Shiv Sena, the BJP's own ally at the state and central level. He characterized this pact as a marriage of pure convenience, forged solely to safeguard personal interests and consolidate opposition against the BJP. Chavan termed it a "selfish alliance" and instructed BJP cadres to meticulously expose its true, self-serving nature to every voter in the city.
"Our duty is not to speak against our ally Shiv Sena," Chavan stated, drawing a line between state-level partnership and local political maneuvering. "However, it is our responsibility to explain to the people how our opponents, driven solely by their own benefit, have joined hands with them only to fight against the BJP." He emphasized that this critical message must be communicated clearly at the grassroots, booth-by-booth level.
Booths as Battlefields for Development
Chavan framed the UMC election as a watershed moment for Ulhasnagar's future. He called for unwavering dedication and sacrifice from party workers, declaring that every polling booth must be treated as a battlefield if the BJP aims to secure the mayor's position and form the next civic body. The campaign strategy, he outlined, hinges on direct voter contact, highlighting the work done by BJP-led governments at both the Centre and the state for the common citizen.
Buoyed by internal surveys, Chavan expressed confidence in the BJP's prospects, predicting the party could win more than 50 seats in the civic polls. However, he set an even more ambitious target for the cadre: to secure over 51 percent of the total vote share, a goal that would require tireless effort from every single party member.
An Appeal for a Fear-Free, Developed Ulhasnagar
Shifting focus to governance and development, Chavan revealed he has personally urged Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to adopt a special focus on Ulhasnagar. He contrasted the city's unique challenges with the transformation of Nagpur into a smart city under Fadnavis's leadership and mentioned receiving assurances of full support for Ulhasnagar's development.
Appealing directly to the city's business community, Chavan asserted that only the BJP could guarantee a fear-free environment for trade and commerce. He directly addressed the issue of 'goondaraj'—rule by strongmen—which he stated has long plagued Ulhasnagar. "If we want to end this system," Chavan asserted, "the city must be entrusted to leaders with a clean image and progressive thinking."
His closing appeal was a direct call for change: "Ulhasnagar has seen goondaraj. Vote for change. Support the BJP to transform the city's image and free it from fear-based politics." The stage is now set for a high-stakes contest where the BJP is positioning itself as the sole agent of transformation against established local forces.
