An internal survey by the BJP may show that voters of Kasba assembly segment still favour four-time MLA Girish Bapat, but it doesn’t appear as if convincing the leadership for a ticket in the assembly elections will be an easy task for him.

BJP leader Dheeraj Ghate (centre) flanked by his supporters

Rebels in the party are giving him tough competition. A fact clearly seen at the recent BJP Vijay Sankalpa Melava, when another party leader, Dheeraj Ghate publicly showed his muscle power — 400 to 500 of his supporters arrived with banners and shouted slogans saying he should get the ticket — in the presence of the party’s national president, Amit Shah and MLA Bapat.