Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan strongly criticized a recent incident where party officials were pursued by aspiring candidates in Nashik. The event, which occurred on Tuesday, involved officials who were transporting essential B-forms for the upcoming Nashik Municipal Corporation elections.
Chase and Condemnation at Highway Bungalow
Minister Mahajan addressed the media after arriving at a bungalow on the Nashik-Mumbai highway. This was where BJP city president Sunil Kedar had taken refuge following the chase by aspirants, their supporters, and relatives. Mahajan expressed his concern, stating unequivocally that "it should not have happened." He explained that party office-bearers, in consultation with committee members, had meticulously selected the candidates, and the distribution of B-forms was underway.
"The chase followed by the people jumping here and there will be inquired thoroughly," Mahajan asserted, promising a complete investigation into the unruly incident.
Refuting Allegations and Announcing Probes
The minister tackled several controversies head-on. He dismissed widespread rumors about the sale of party tickets as baseless attempts to disrupt the electoral process. Mahajan emphasized the party's commitment to transparency and declared that a formal investigation would be launched into all allegations of misconduct to settle the matter definitively.
Specifically, on claims that tickets were awarded to those who made donations, Mahajan clarified, "While this is not the practice, still we will conduct an inquiry on the issue and ask the candidates as well as the ones who made claims to verify the same."
He also refuted charges of favouring newcomers over party veterans. "Once the list is out, everybody will know that 80% are old timers," he said, explaining the party's strategy. "We have to give justice to those coming in to strengthen the party. We have blended them in favour of the party," Mahajan added, describing the candidate panel as a strategic mix of experience and fresh energy chosen for their winnability.
Failed Alliance and Going Solo in Nashik
Mahajan shed light on the breakdown of seat-sharing talks within the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Nashik city. He revealed the BJP's helplessness in striking a deal with partners, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena.
"We have 66 seats in the corporation and few joined us later taking the tally to about 80," Mahajan explained. "NCP and Shiv Sena both wanted about 30 to 50 seats. Can we contest only on 30 or max 50 seats?" He stated that this impractical demand was communicated to alliance leaders in every personal meeting, but no adjustment was possible. Consequently, the BJP has decided to contest all 122 seats in the Nashik municipal polls alone.
The minister concluded that an alliance could not be formed because agreeing to the partners' demands would have created bigger problems for the party, which has over 1,100 aspiring candidates seeking tickets for just 122 seats.
