Rajendra Janjal clarifies celebration row

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

After Rajendra Janjal was elected deputy mayor, his supporters and party workers celebrated enthusiastically across the municipal corporation premises and various parts of the city. During the celebrations, some posters allegedly targeting guardian minister Sanjay Shirsat were displayed, triggering political discussion.

Responding to the controversy on Wednesday, Janjal told the mediapersons, “ Shirsat is our leader and the district’s guardian minister. The anger was among the workers. I allowed their emotions to find some expression. The guardian minister should not have opposed my candidature for deputy mayor. He wanted Harshada Shirsat to be made deputy mayor,” Janjal claimed.

The rift between Shirsat and Janjal appears to be intensifying, bringing the internal conflict within the Shinde faction into the open. The BJP had decided to allocate the deputy mayor’s post to the Shinde-led Sena faction, and deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had announced Janjal’s name for the post. However, Shirsat had reportedly expressed opposition to the candidature.

Due to the ongoing dispute, the Shinde faction has yet to formally register its group of 13 corporators with the divisional commissioner.

On Tuesday the mayor and deputy mayor elections were held, and Shirsat attended the event. He congratulated both by presenting them with bouquets. However, after Shirsat left the municipal corporation premises, Janjal’s supporters erupted in celebration. The municipal corporation headquarters vicinity, Kranti Chowk, and Pundaliknagar Road were covered in colourful gulal as part of the festivities.”

Some posters targeting (or provoking) Shirsat were also displayed during the celebrations. Referring to this Janjal said, “During the Lok Sabha elections, when I sought a ticket, I was told I was still young. When I sought an Assembly nomination, I was again denied. Now, even though I met all the criteria for the deputy mayor’s post, if my candidature is opposed, it is natural for party workers to feel angry.”

He added that more than 15 defeated candidates were among those participating in the celebrations. “Those were their emotions, and I allowed them some space. The celebrations continued until around 8 pm,” he said.