Former corporators challenge the Jagtaps in Chinchwad Assembly constituency
Pimpri: The Jagtaps have been holding sway over the Chinchwad Assembly constituency. Following differences between the family members, MLA Ashwini Jagtap and brother-in-law and City Unit BJP President Shankar Jagtap, former corporators have started challenging their supremacy openly.
It is said that a big group of former corporators is likely to leave the party. Bickering in the city unit of the party may cause a big dent into the BJP.
Earlier, nine corporators left the BJP, including Maya Barne, Chanda Lokhande, Tushar Kamthe, Sandeep Kaspate from Chinchwad, Eknath Pawar, Ravi Landge, Vasant Borate, Sanjay Newale and Priyanka Barse from Bhosari. Thus, nine former corporators have deserted the party in the past two years.
A bypoll was held after the then MLA Laxman Jagtap passed away. His wife Ashwini Jagtap and brother Shankar Jagtap clashed over the candidature in the bypoll. The BJP chose Ashwini. She had to struggle for her win in spite of sympathy.
The NCP’s Nana Kate received 99,000 votes while independent Rahul Kalate polled 40,000. Jagtap won due to division of votes in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Former corporators from Chinchwad, who were denied plum posts in the last term, started speaking against Jagtap as 1.5 lakh votes went against her.
A group of former corporators who opposed Shankar Jagtap as the City Unit President, preferred to stay away from him. They worked for Ashwini Jagtap for over 1.5 years. However, it is said that Ashiwini and Shankar Jagtap have patched up and the latter is likely to get the candidature in the State polls.
Therefore, this group has become restless. It is said that they would complain against Shankar Jagtap to the party leadership and resign one by one from the party. The first one to quit was Sandip Kaspate from Pimple Nilakh. He alleged that there was no democracy in the party, dynasty politics was rampant and resigned from the primary membership of the BJP.
On the same ground, BJP Wakad City Unit President Ram Wakadkar left the party. It is said that these former corporators are leaning towards the NCP (SP).
