BJP loses its stronghold in Pune by-polls, sets the stage for Congress and Uddhav party
In an unprecedented turn of events, BJP loses its bastion in the Pune by-polls. In a big blow to the BJP in Maharashtra, its candidate Hemant Rasane lost the by-elections in its stronghold Kasba Peth against Congress candidate Ravindra Dhanghekar by 11,200 votes.
Maharashtra | MVA candidate (from Congress) Dhangekar Ravindra Hemraj collects his winning certificate as he wins Kasba Peth assembly by-election. pic.twitter.com/ueE5croycL
— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2023
Kasba Peth was under BJP for the last 30 years but Congress has breached the BJP’s bastion with help of the MVA faction of Uddhav Thackeray.
Kasba Peth elections are significant in many ways as it was the first election after MVA led by Uddhav Thackeray lost power in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray commenting on the by-election results said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost the by-polls to the Kasba Peth Assembly constituency in Maharashtra’s Pune city because of its “use and throw” policy. Uddhav Thackeray said, “Kasba has freed itself from the clutches of the BJP, soon, the nation will also follow this trend.”
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What made BJP lose?
According to political experts, MVA put a united face against the BJP candidate. All the motormouths are kept away from the campaign in Kasba Peth by-elections so there should not be any controversy.
BJP Lok Sabha MP Girish Bapat was said to be the ‘undisputed king’ of Kasba but after Bapat became an MP, it was occupied by Mukta Tilak, another Brahmin face, hailing from the Tilak family. After Mukta’s untimely death, the seat fell vacant and BJP chose the wrong candidate to fill it up. BJP also tried to give religious colour to multicultural and multi-religion Kasba-like constituencies.
Another reason is that Congress’ Rasane belongs to the OBC community and the Kasba Peth seat has been represented by Brahmin candidates for the last three decades. When Hemat’s candidature was announced, Congress came up with banners against the BJP claiming that it had taken the Brahmins for granted.
First woman MLA in Chinchwad by-polls
BJP saved face by winning the Chinchwad seat. Its candidate Ashwini Jagtap with 1,35,434 votes (46.5%) won against the NCP candidate Nana Kate with 99,344 (35.56%) votes whereas the game-changer was the Shiv Sena (UBT) rebel Rahul Kalate who bagged a total of 44082 votes (15.15%) votes. Ashwini has become the first woman MLA to represent the industrial city in the Maharashtra Assembly.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesman Sanjay Raut remarked, “In Kasba, the Maha Vikas Aghadi won hands down. The Chinchwad seat also belonged to the MVA had Rahul Kalate not contested. We had tried to convince Kalate but he didn’t listen to us. Nonetheless, the MVA candidate fought hard in Chinchwad which will give us hope in all future contests against the BJP.”
The after-effect of the loss is showing up in the BJP camp. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other state BJP leaders had warned their candidates that they will get the tickets based on the voting in by-polls. Now 11 of the 14 BJP corporators who represented Kasba Peth ward will be denied tickets in assembly elections.
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