Pankaja Munde, Vinod Tawde may get national role in BJP's national executive

Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Chandrakant Patil on Friday announced the formation of party’s new state executive committee. Although senior leaders including Eknath Khadse, Vinod Tawde and Pankaja Munde will be special invitees but have not been given any responsible post. 

It is learnt that along with Munde, Tawde may also get a place in the BJP’s national executive under the leadership of JP Nadda. Munde has been sulking since she lost the assembly elections last year from Parli constituency to her cousin and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde. Munde and Khadse had accused the BJP’s state leadership of sidelining them. 

The executive committee of BJP’s state unit has 12 vice-presidents, 68 executive committee members, 12 secretaries, five general secretaries, one secretary and one general secretary (organisation). Along with this, there are 139 invitees and 59 special invitees. 

The work to constitute the executive committee was pending since July 2019 which is when Patil took charge as Maharashtra BJP President replacing Raosaheb Danve as the latter resigned after his induction in the Union cabinet. 

Of the 12 vice-presidents appointed in the new executive committee, many are considered as strong supporters of senior leader Devendra Fadnavis. To name a few, Ram Shinde, Prasad Lad, Sanjay Kunte, Chitra Wagh among others have made it to the list of 12 vice-presidents in the BJP’s executive committee in Maharashtra. 

Shinde who lost the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections to NCP candidates had expressed displeasure over not being given the MLC ticket for the legislative poll which were held unopposed in May this year. 

However, Pritam Munde - the younger sister of Pankaja - has been named as one the vice-presidents in the state executive committee while the daughter-in-law of Khadse, MP Raksha Khadse is one of the 12 secretaries. 

Moreover, Keshav Upadhye has taken over as the chief spokesperson of the party replacing Madhav Bhandari who has been appointed as the vice-president. Shaina NC has been replaced as treasurer with MLA Mihir Kotecha.