After Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) formed a government in Maharashtra ending the political deadlock, the trouble seems to be brewing for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It is learned that as many as 12 MLAs of the saffron parties may join MVA in the coming days. Currently, as per some members of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra, several legislators are in touch with the MVA for a party crossover.
Interestingly, the BJP MLAs who are in touch with the ruling 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' to shift loyalties came from the opposition parties including Congress and Nationalist Congress before the assembly elections which happened in October this year. Moreover, along with them, 'unhappy' BJP loyal are also reportedly looking to join the MVA.
Before the assembly elections in Maharashtra this October, a mass exodus of leaders from Congress and NCP was witnessed. Prominent leaders from the opposition shifted their loyalties before the assembly polls. However, the same leaders are now keen on getting back to their ‘secular’ fold and join the MVA.
According to sources, along with dozens of MLAs, a BJP MP in Rajya Sabha is also in contact with the ruling MVA in Maharashtra. The BJP leadership has decided to make the MLAs and MPs resign from their post and contest again on BJP’s symbol, the source from the ruling coalition added.
The MVA leadership is likely to act on the issue after the upcoming winter session of the Maharashtra legislature which will be organised in Nagpur.
Having said this, the BJP loyal are also speculated to quit the party. In recent political developments in Maharashtra, the social media was flooded with “rumours” of senior BJP leader Pankaja Munde planning to leave the saffron party. This happened after Munde removed her association with BJP on Twitter and put up a post on Facebook in which she talked about “deciding the way ahead” while announcing that she will come up with a decision before December 12.
However, Munde has rejected the claims of her quitting the saffron party.
Another senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse has also expressed his disappointment with the party’s high-command over being sidelined before the assembly elections in Maharashtra which concluded recently. BJP in Maharashtra fielded Rohini Khadse, daughter of Eknath Khadse, instead of her father from Muktainagar in Jalgaon district.
However, Rohini Khadse had to face defeated and her father has alleged that some BJP leaders played an active role in the same. Pankaja Munde was also defeated by her cousin Dhananjay Munde from Parli constituency in the recently concluded assembly polls.
Reacting to the reports of several MLAs being in contact with the MVA, Mumbai BJP President Ashish Shelar rejected the claims saying that such false information is being deliberately spread by the MVA leaders.
Amid the claims that senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse is likely to quit the party and has “offers from Congress and NCP”, Shelar asserted that the BJP MLA is not going anywhere and will remain in the party.
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