Those who joined the BJP include former MNS MLA Nitin Bhosale and former Shiv Sena (UBT) mayor Vinayak Pande. Also joining the party were Yatin Wagh, who served as the first mayor from the MNS, and Congress leaders Shahu Khaire and Sanjay Chavan
The development comes as political activity intensifies in the city ahead of the Nashik Municipal Corporation elections. Representational Pic/File
Ahead of the Maharashtra local body elections, several leaders from the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Nashik district on Thursday, reported the PTI.
The development comes as political activity intensifies in the city ahead of the Nashik Municipal Corporation elections.
Those who joined the BJP include former MNS MLA Nitin Bhosale and former Shiv Sena (UBT) mayor Vinayak Pande.
Also joining the party were Yatin Wagh, who served as the first mayor from the MNS, and Congress leaders Shahu Khaire and Sanjay Chavan, as per the PTI.
MNS leader’s entry raises eyebrows
A surprise entry was that of Dinkar Patil, the state general secretary of the MNS. Just a day earlier, he had taken part in celebrations marking the alliance between the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT).
Patil joined the BJP along with his son and his wife Lata Patil, a former corporator. They were welcomed into the party in the presence of BJP minister Girish Mahajan.
BJP confident of strong civic poll performance
Speaking at the event, Girish Mahajan said people were joining the BJP because they believed in the party’s ideology.
He expressed confidence that the BJP would win more than 100 seats in the 122-member Nashik Municipal Corporation, according to the PTI.
Local BJP MLA opposes some entries
However, the inductions triggered opposition within the BJP itself.
Nashik Central MLA Devyani Pharande strongly objected to the entry of Vinayak Pande, Yatin Wagh and Shahu Khaire into the party, the news agency reported.
Her supporters and party workers gathered at the BJP office and staged protests against the move.
MLA voices protest on social media
In a Facebook post, Pharande said she opposed the induction of leaders in ward number 13 and expressed support for grassroots Hindutva workers.
She also stated that she was not consulted about the decision despite being the election in-charge.
Political tensions rise within BJP
The episode has highlighted internal differences within the BJP at a time when the party is preparing for crucial local body elections in Nashik.
Political observers say the situation will be closely watched as parties finalise their strategies for the upcoming polls.
(with PTI inputs)
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