It’s Munde vs Munde in Beed

Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde is caught in an ugly turf war, wherein his elder brother Panditrao Munde is threatening to wipe off his legacy in his parliamentary constituency of Beed in the Marathwada region. In a veiled threat days before joining the Nationalist Congress Party, Panditrao sought to remind Gopinath that “he better remember how and who made him big in politics”.

Sharp differences within the Munde parivar, which have been in existing since 2009 appears to have peaked ahead of the zilla parishad elections scheduled on February 7.  A close Munde aide told DNA, “Dhananjay is competing with his uncle to retain hold in the district by seeking help from the rival NCP. On the other hand, Munde, who was stumped by his nephew on elections for president of municipal council president in Parli (Beed), has taken a vow to teach him a lesson. As a result, the region is witnessing a family drama Munde versus Munde.”

In fact, shocked senior BJP leaders in Mumbai recently admitted, “We can understand political rivalry, but the language being used by Panditrao to hit out at Gopinath has come as rude shock.” The heightened rivalry within the Munde family has led a section to question the inordinate delay in the BJP’s disciplinary action against Dhananjay for violating the party whip during the Parli (Beed) municipal council polls. It may be recalled that Dhananjay had set up Independent candidate Deepak Deshmukh against Gopinath’s candidate and BJP nominee, Jugal Kishore Lohiya, for the election of president in the council.

According to state BJP chief Sudhir Mungantiwar, “A panel will look into these acts of indiscipline. Once we study the report, we will take the necessary action.” However, Gopinath’s supporters are restless, while they argue that, “Panditrao is eliciting covert support from a section within the BJP and NCP to weaken Gopinath in Beed.”