Pune Civic Polls: Will BJP Go Solo Or Contest In Alliance With NCP & Shiv Sena?

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a big question in front of it — to contest solo in the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections or in alliance with Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Going by what their senior leaders are saying, it looks like the saffron party, despite winning 100 seats in the 2017 polls single-handedly, will contest in an alliance.

Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, speaking to reporters in Pune recently, said ruling parties "will fight jointly wherever possible." "Where a seat-sharing arrangement is not feasible, the constituents may contest independently," he added.

"In exceptional cases, if there is a possibility that we have to go solo, we will do so. However, we will ensure that the alliance partners refrain from criticising one another during campaigning. Our thrust will largely be on contesting the local body elections together as Mahayuti," the CM said.

Pune BJP MP and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol also stated that the three ruling parties in the state will contest unitedly. He said, “With Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stating in Pune that Mahayuti will fight polls together, it’s natural that Pune would also follow the same.”

However, local BJP leaders think that the party should contest solo as it will "easily secure a majority."

Ujwal Keskar, former leader of the opposition, PMC, told The Free Press Journal that he wouldn't be the right person to answer whether the party should contest alone or in an alliance. "However, considering the current political situation in Pune and doing an analysis of it, one can say that it would be beneficial if the BJP contested the elections alone," he added.

Kunal Tilak, son of late BJP MLA Mukta Tilak, who is determined to contest the PMC polls, said the senior party leaders will take the call. "The decision to fight PMC polls solo or in alliance with NCP and Shiv Sena lies solely with our party leaders in Maharashtra. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reiterated the commitment to contest in alliance wherever it is beneficial to all the parties. He has also placed confidence in our local party leaders by stating that options can be explored to contest solo wherever it is deemed not to be a hindrance to our allies. I think it is a great example of how the BJP functions as a party when our senior leaders openly state that opinions of local leaders will be taken into consideration while deciding about pre-poll or post-poll alliances. Rest assured, I feel that the Mahayuti will perform positively in all the Municipal Corporations," he stated.

(With inputs from Gaurav Kadam)