Another Maha BJP MP strikes discordant note

Mumbai: After Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nana Patole and MLA Ashish Deshmukh, it is now the turn of party’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kakade, a well-known builder from Pune to sing a rebellious tune. The BJP seems to have taken a serious note of his recent statements, in which he said, “The BJP will not form the government in Gujarat and the party will suffer due to the anti-incumbency factor.”

Sources in the BJP told The Asian Age that senior party leaders have sought an explanation from him and the BJP may even seek an official explanation from him after the Gujarat elections.

Mr Kakade is allegedly not on ‘harmonious’ terms with BJP’s state minister Girish Bapat, who is also from Pune. Mr Kakade is close to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and had been assigned duties during the Pune municipal elections by the BJP. A builder-turned-politician, Mr Kakade wants greater responsibility and power over party affairs in Pune and western Maharashtra. But as a senior party leader and guardian minister of Pune, it is Mr Bapat, who is playing an active role in the politics of Pune and western Maharashtra.

Mr Kakade’s comments on the Gujarat election results have raised eyebrows, according to party sources.

According to Mr Kakade’s statement, since the BJP has been in power in Gujarat for the last 22 years and so the anti-incumbency factor is bound to affect it. Chief minister is dealing with the issue. But the MP may soon be asked for an official explanation.

After having raised voices against the BJP government on the farmers’ loan waiver scheme among others issues, Mr Patole and Mr Deshmukh from Vidharbha, and Mr Eknath Khadse from North Maharashtra, are now targeting the chief minister as well.

With Mr Kakade jumping into the fray, the party, which values discipline and is very particular about party leaders giving press statements or voicing opinions in public, will definitely take necessary steps, added party sources.