Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule indicated on Thursday that elections for a dozen Zilla Parishads (ZPs) could be announced shortly. This development comes as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) grapples with internal dissent from workers upset over ticket distribution for the ongoing civic polls.
Election Timeline and Reservation Criteria
While interacting with the media in Nagpur, Bawankule clarified the poll status. He stated that elections can be conducted soon for 12 Zilla Parishads that are within the 50% reservation limit for women and other categories. For the remaining ZPs, the decision rests with the State Election Commission, which will base its call on the Supreme Court's verdict from January 21.
The minister added that the senior leadership of the three Mahayuti alliance partners—BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP—will convene soon to deliberate on seat-sharing formulas for these crucial rural local body elections.
Mahayuti Unity and Urban Poll Friction
Bawankule emphasized that contesting all elections under the united Mahayuti banner remains the standard operating procedure for the alliance. "Alliance is the norm for us. But Mahayuti could not happen in some places due to various reasons, but our intention is to always contest under Mahayuti banner," he said.
With the deadline for withdrawal of nominations for urban body polls approaching, there is a possibility of last-minute adjustments to present a united front. This could involve rebel candidates or allies stepping back in certain seats to consolidate votes behind the BJP-led alliance's official candidate. Bawankule acknowledged that local-level disagreements sometimes derail talks but affirmed a top-level understanding to fight together.
BJP's Damage Control Amid Widespread Revolt
The party is currently facing an unprecedented wave of discontent from its grassroots workers across Maharashtra. Cadres are frustrated after being denied tickets for the civic elections, leading to public protests and even mass resignations.
In a significant example, Rohit Khopde, the son of BJP MLA Krishna Khopde, resigned from the party after being refused a ticket. Addressing this, Bawankule revealed the party's stance: "We are advising that sons and daughters of sitting legislators must not seek tickets and that's why Rohit was denied a ticket." He expressed confidence that through dialogue, such upset individuals would return to the party fold.
The minister confirmed that senior leaders, including himself, are actively engaging in damage control by reaching out to disgruntled workers. "We will try to talk to those who are angry and make them understand the situation," Bawankule stated.
On the question of candidates with police cases, the minister drew a clear distinction. He asserted that merely being named in a case is insufficient for disqualification; a court conviction is necessary. "Declaring someone guilty is the domain of the courts," he remarked, adding that convicted individuals are not given tickets.
Regarding the campaign for the civic polls, Bawankule mentioned that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will hold rallies as needed, potentially around 50, to bolster the party's prospects.
