Munde supporters file nomination papers, ignoring BJP State president appeal

Aurangabad Nov 11:

Ignoring the appeal of the state unit chief of BJP Chandrakant Patil of supporting the official candidate of the party in the Marathwada graduate constituency election, two loyalists of Pankaja Munde Ramesh Pokle and Pravin Ghuge filed their nomination papers on Wednesday.

With this, factionalism in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come to the fore. As reported earlier, BJP announced Shirish Boralkar as its official candidate for the election on Monday.

Former minister Pankaja Munde and her loyalists were upset over this move of the party. On this background Pokle and Ghue filed their nomination papers today giving a jolt to the party''s official candidate. Both of them are Munde loyalists. It appears they were upset for giving the ticket to Boralkar.

The factionalism in the party was reflected on social media after Boralkar was given BJP candidature. It has resulted in rebellion and filing nomination papers by the two on Wednesday. BJP is likely to face difficulties in controlling the rebellion. All eyes are on Boralkar to see what steps he takes to ensure his victory with two rebels in the fray.

After the declaration of the candidate''s name, leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis is taking flaks from Munde supporters on social media. Supporters of Munde reacted sharply on social media after Ghuge was not given the ticket. On holding discussions with the activists, Ghuge and Pokle submitted their nomination papers.

Ghuge was asked as to why he filed nomination papers when the party announced it official candidate, he replied that the party had instructed him to submit nomination papers.

“The party may have thought something that I was asked. Whatever may be the decision of the party, we will try for the victory of the party candidate. We will see what party tells us tomorrow. We will make all efforts to defeat the NCP candidate at any cost. Filing nomination papers is a personal decision of Pokle,” he added.

Commenting on his nomination papers submission, Pokle said, ‘I have sought the party''s ticket and the party should have reconsidered my name for the candidature. If the party cannot change its candidate, my name should be considered as the second candidate since this is preferential voting and not based on just a symbol. Such types of decisions were taken in the past. I have requested the party to consider my name,” he said.

Pokle said that Gopinath Munde would have accompanied him had he (Munde) been alive today. Reconsideration should be done in his name as an active leader.