Internal rift in Shinde Sena keeps BJP waiting for three hours

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Despite having a clear majority, the BJP was forced to wait nearly three hours on Friday due to internal factionalism within the Shinde Sena, triggered by a last-minute decision to allot the deputy mayor’s post to the Sena.

At a press conference, OBC Welfare Minister Atul Save announced BJP corporator Sameer Rajurkar (Prabhag 17-D) as the mayoral candidate. Rajendra Janjal was initially finalised for the deputy mayor’s post. However, on the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the deputy mayor’s post was allotted to the Shinde Sena, a decision conveyed by contact leader Vilas Parkar to city president Kishor Shitole. As Guardian Minister Sanjay Shirsat was kept out of the process, the Sena split into two factions, delaying the press meet.

Janjal later reached the BJP office around 2 pm along with MLA Pradeep Jaiswal, Rushikesh Jaiswal and a woman corporator. Save said discussions on other civic posts are yet to be held and decisions will follow after the elections. The announcement disappointed several aspirants. MP Dr Bhagwat Karad, MLA Sanjay Kenekar and Kishor Shitole were present.

Rajurkar’s turn after stiff competition

Rajurkar emerged as the candidate amid competition from Shivaji Dandge, Vijay Autade, Pramod Rathod, Mahesh Malwatkar, Rajgaurav Wankhede, Anil Makariye and Madhuri Adwant. Though he was earlier upset after missing the city president’s post, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule intervened and Rajurkar was finalised at the last moment, considering the open-category reservation. BJP state president Ravindra Chavan issued the official candidature letter. Despite having numbers for both posts, BJP ceded the deputy mayor’s post to the Shinde Sena, with Shitole stating the party acted as the “big brother.”

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Sameer Subhash Rajurkar (BJP mayoral candidate)

Profile: RSS volunteer

• 1995: BJYM Samarthnagar Ward President

• 1997: BJYM City Students’ Wing

• 2000: President, BJYM City Students’ Wing

• 2002: General Secretary, BJYM District Students’ Wing

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• 2010: Corporator from Samarthnagar ward (City Development Front)

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