Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) internal clashes are allegedly affecting party badly, after senior leader and guardian minister Girish Bapat made a statement of party unlikely to retain state’s power in 2019. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kakade has said that CM should decide whether an action needs to be taken on Mr Bapat.
Mr Bapat was in limelight for predicting BJP’s loss in Gujarat assembly elections. Pune city has given all 8 seats to BJP in 2014 assembly elections but these two groups of Mr Kakade and Mr Bapat are against each other which is damaging the pa-rty.
Mr Bapat while addressing seminar of pomegranate cultivating farmers had said, “whatever they want from the government should be demanded now because this government won’t be there after one year. I won’t discuss but I know what is going to happen.”
Mr Kakade, Rajya Sabha MP was quick to pick this statement. Reacting to it, Mr Kakde said, “Now CM Fadnavis should decide whether he wants to take action on him (Girish Bapat.)” He also said that BJP would come to power again and this time on its own. The two groups in Pune has become headache for state leadership as both leaders disagree on almost every issue. BJP as of now has a strong base in Pune. Party has all 8 MLAs, municipality on its own and also 2 MLAs in adjoining Pimpri Chinchwad city with complete majority in Pimpri municipality also.
Minister versus MP battle is hurting the party’s image in city. “People don’t like public display of infighting of leaders. It affects not just image but also morale of party workers. Leadership must intervene now,” said two terms BJP MLA from the city.
Mr Kakade was reportedly close to NCP leader Ajit Pawar before joining the BJP . In Pune municipal election 2017, He had led the party to single handed victory for first time. Since then, both groups have been tussling supremac.
Bapat’s statement
Mr Bapat’s statement has become a talking point in state politics. NCP MP Supriya Sule has called Mr Bapat ‘ Satya Vachani’ whereas; Sena MP Sanjay Raut too has said that Mr Bapat is speaking the truth. From BJP’s side finance minister Sudhir Mungantivar has come for the rescue of Mr Bapat. “Mr Bapat is honourable, respectable person. He has spoken truth. Maharashtra’s people have decided to dethrone BJP and Mr Bapat has just said that,” said Ms Sule. Mr Raut said, “He speaks what he thinks. He does not hide his information.”
