Pune BJP Suspends 69 Members After Municipal Election Rebellion
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 11th February 2026: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken strict disciplinary action against 69 party members, suspending them for six years after their rebellion over candidacy disputes in the recent municipal elections. However, the timing of the move—coming after the elections—has raised questions within
political circles about its actual impact.
Ahead of the elections, nearly 2,500 aspirants had sought BJP tickets. Due to limited seats, many loyal party workers were denied nominations, sparking widespread dissatisfaction. Some rebelled openly and contested elections independently, while others were accused of working against official candidates.
In response, Pune city president Dheeraj Ghate compiled a list of 69 members allegedly involved in anti-party activities and announced their six-year suspension. Notably, several of those suspended are reported to have already distanced themselves from the party, casting doubts on the effectiveness of the action.
The suspended members include seven from Shivajinagar, six each from Kothrud and Kasba, 19 from Hadapsar, nine from Kharadi, eight from Vadgaon Sheri, nine from Pune Cantonment, and four from Parvati. These numbers reflect the depth of internal discontent across multiple constituencies in the city.
Ghate stated that the suspensions were carried out on the orders of state president Ravindra Chavan. “There is no forgiveness for those who breach party discipline,” he warned. However, political observers note that had such measures been implemented during the elections, the party might have mitigated some of the damage.
The question now is whether this delayed disciplinary action will curb growing factionalism within the BJP or remain largely symbolic. All eyes in Pune’s political circles are on the party’s next moves.
