Disgruntled Ashish Shelar resigns as BJP leader in BMC

Disgruntled that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not appoint him as the Mumbai unit chief despite being a strong contender, corporator Ashish Shelar on Tuesday resigned as the group leader in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

On Monday, Raj Purohit formally took charge as the BJP’s Mumbai president. Within 24 hours, Shelar sent his resignation to Purohit, saying that it was against his principles to continue holding the post of the party’s group leader in the BMC.

In the letter, Shelar said that he was appointed by the earlier party president. It was up to the new chief to pick his team, the letter said. According to the party’s discipline, the old body is automatically dissolved once the new chief is selected.

“So consider that my resignation is in keeping with the party discipline, and free me from the post,” he urged in the letter. He also assured that he would follow the new chief’s orders.

Party insiders said Shelar’s resignation would brew up another controversy in the party. When Shelar was confronted, he refused to comment on the matter. “It’s our party’s internal matter, and I don’t want to discuss it,” he said.