As heavyweight leaders from the Congress and the NCP queue up to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in-house aspirants have started feeling insecure about their chances of securing a candidature.
On Saturday, NCP leader and former minister Vijaykumar Gavit joined the BJP along with his supporters. Former MLA Rahul Randhe and B S Patil also jumped ship.
However, this sudden influx have made certain BJP leaders nervous as they believe their chances of getting assembly tickets for the polls are diminishing. They also see it as threat to their existence in the party considering the number of leaders entering party along with their supporters.
"We have been working for so many years to reach a stage where we could have sought a ticket. But if outsiders come and snatches away our chance, it would hurt. We will definitely put forward our resentment to the state leadership," said an aspirant.
While murmurs of resentment becoming increasingly audible, party president Amit Shah has also cautioned core committee to deal the new entries stringently.
"While 90 per cent of NCP leaders from Nandurbar have joined the BJP, there is a list of more than 35 names of heavyweight politicians who wishes to join the party across Maharashtra, but we will have to now screen them thoroughly. There is nothing against them and are most welcome but our trusted partymen should not feel left out or alienated. We have been told that we shouldn't make our party's image like the Congress or the NCP where anyone can come and go, hence there will be several filters. Of course, while issuing candidature we will consider strengths of our candidates first," said Eknath Khadse, core committee member of the Maharashtra BJP and leader of the opposition in state legislative assembly.
On Friday, Dr Dilip Yelgaonkar, former MLA of Khatav Taluka, who had quit the BJP to join the NCP, re-joined the BJP along with his supporters. Ramchandra Pole, retired chief forest conservator and Vilas Amberkar, deputy mayor of Satara joined the party too.
On Thursday, former minister of forest department and six times MP Babanrao Pachpute, three times MP Bhaskarrao Khatgaonkar, Dr Madhav Kinhalkar, brother in law of former CM Ashok Chavan and former union minister Suryakanta Patil along with their supporters joined the BJP in presence of Amit Shah, national president.
Will expel tainted leader in charges proved
Eknath Khadse, while replying to a question, assured that if charges against former minister Vijaykumar Gavit and Babarao Pachpute are proved then the party will not hesitate to expel them. "It was me who levelled charges against Gavit. But, they were not proved. Even the income tax department gave clean chit in the disproportionate assets case. Let the charges be proved by the inquiry set up by the state government after which we will take suitable action against them," said Khadse, adding that Gavit's joining the BJP was decided when his daughter joined the party.
BJP to declare first list next week
Demanding 50 per cent seat sharing formula with the Shiv Sena, the BJP is all set to declare the list of at least 50 names early next week for the assembly election. "The list of close to 50 names is ready. These names are obvious ones. Names will be declared early next week as we will have very little time left for the campaign. Party president has clearly instructed us to start filing nominations as soon as the dates are announced so that candidates can start working in their constituencies. While most seats will be decided here, few seats will have to be approved by the central leadership," said Khadse.
However, there are several seats across the state which the party has demanded. "It's not just the BJP asking for the desired seats. Even the Shiv Sena will benefit from the exchanges. The arrangements are purely for the victory of saffron alliance. These seats and candidates will be announced in the second round," said a senior BJP leader.
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