Pune: BJP’s Defeat In Kasba By-Election Raises Questions On Organizational Strength
Siddhi Dharmadhikari
Kasba Peth, 3rd March 2023: In the Kasba by-election, the stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fallen. Therefore, the confidence of the leaders and workers of Mahavikas Aghadi that they can stop BJP’s winning streak has increased. Therefore, this by-election will have a big impact on the upcoming municipal elections.
The fate of BJP aspirants in the municipality will now be decided on the number of votes obtained in six wards of this constituency. There will be a big upheaval in the city in the coming time and the said defeat has raised a question mark on the organizational strength of the BJP.
Kasba Constituency consists of Ward N. 15, 17, 18 in full and 16, 19, and 29 in part. In this constituency, Ward No 15 has the highest number of 71,756 voters. So far, BJP has nominated only a person who became a corporator from Ward No 15 in this constituency. While nominating Hemant Rasane, one of the criteria was that he was a corporator in Ward No 15.
The fate of BJP aspirants in the municipality will now be decided on the number of votes obtained in six wards of this constituency.
Despite five years of one-handed rule in the Pune municipal corporation and a large army of MPs, and five MLAs, the BJP has been defeated. Due to this, the political career of many office bearers in the city of BJP is hanging.
Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil, Election In-charge Muralidhar Mohol, MLA Madhuri Misal, BJP City President Jagdish Mulik, Former MP Sanjay Kakade, MLA Sunil Kamble, Siddharth Shirole, Bhimrao Tapkir, Union General Secretary Rajesh Pandey, Former House Leader Ganesh Bidkar, Dheeraj Ghate along with former corporators had a large network of activists.
However, BJP had to face defeat in this election. At the same time, this election also highlighted how weak the structure of the party organization is and how the local office bearers and leaders have lost their connection with the people.
In the Kasba assembly constituency, out of 18 corporators, 12 corporators belong to BJP. During the five years of power in the municipality, BJP held the post of mayor for 2.5 years, the standing committee chairmanship for three years and the house leader for two times and 12 corporators. However, this did not help in winning the seat which has been won by BJP since 1995.
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