In a significant political development in Maharashtra, former Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) corporator and influential leader Rahul Kalate officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday. The induction ceremony took place in Mumbai in the presence of the state BJP president, Ravindra Chavan.
Internal Opposition Overlooked for Strategic Gain
Kalate's entry into the BJP was not without controversy. Just last week, local BJP aspirants and office-bearers held a press conference to oppose his likely induction. They criticized his frequent party-hopping in recent years and argued that sidelining loyal workers for a new entrant was unfair. Despite this vocal dissent from within the party's local ranks, the state leadership moved forward with the move, signaling a strategic calculation.
Addressing the discontent, Kalate acknowledged that it was common for some aspirants to be upset but assured that he and the party leaders would work to address these concerns. He emphasized his long-standing work in Pimpri Chinchwad and stated that to continue the area's rapid development, he needed strong support from leaders like Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Ravindra Chavan, which led to his decision.
Boosting BJP's Prospects for Civic Polls
Kalate is considered an influential figure in Pimpri Chinchwad politics, particularly in the Wakad and adjoining areas. His induction is expected to significantly impact the outcome in several wards during the upcoming Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections. This strategic acquisition aligns with the BJP's ambitious goal for the civic polls.
Chinchwad MLA Shankar Jagtap, whom Kalate had contested against unsuccessfully in both the 2023 bypoll and the last state assembly election, welcomed the move. Jagtap stated that the BJP's strength in Pimpri Chinchwad has increased with Kalate's induction. He referenced the state president's call to win 100 seats in the PCMC elections and expressed confidence that with Kalate on board, the party could now aim for 125 seats.
A Wave of Joinees and Alliance Tensions
Kalate was not the only leader to switch sides on Tuesday. Two more former corporators from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, Prasad Shetty and Ulhas Shetty, also joined the BJP in Pimpri Chinchwad. In a further boost for the BJP, family members of former Lok Sabha MP Gajanan Babar from the Shiv Sena (UBT), including ex-corporators Prakash Babar and Sharda Babar, entered the party fold.
This flurry of inductions comes just two days after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar publicly remarked that the understanding within the ruling Mahayuti alliance to avoid poaching each other's candidates and office-bearers was not being followed, hinting at underlying tensions.
The political realignations in Pune's industrial township signal intense preparations for the forthcoming municipal elections, with major parties vying to consolidate their positions by welcoming influential local leaders, even at the cost of internal friction.
