Pune: Amol Balwadkar to fight against Chandrakant Patil, rebellion in BJP in Kothrud

Pune: BJP leader and former Corporator from Kothrud Amol Balwadkar has raised a banner of rebellion against the party candidate, State Minister Chandrakant Patil, from the Kothrud Assembly segment.

There were grievances from local party leaders that an outsider was being imposed in Kothrud. However, Patil has been nominated by the party for the third term. Balwadkar indicated that had he been denied the party ticket, he would rebel against the party candidate. Party State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule met Balwadkar on Sunday (October 20) morning to dissuade him from his decision. Later, Balwadkar said that he would wait for the party list, indicating he was still not happy.

The BJP announced its first list on Sunday afternoon, in which Patil’s name appeared. This led to the conclusion that Balwadkar would rebel against the party candidate. He was adamant on contesting even after his meeting with Bawankule.

Patil will have a tough road ahead if Balwadkar contests the poll. Patil was given the candidature from Kothrud in the bypoll. He hails from Kolhapur. Therefore, local leaders have been unhappy over the imposition of an outsider. The dispute surfaced in the past two elections.

Balwadkar demanded the candidature in this election. Yet the local leader was denied an opportunity. Kothrud is the BJP’s fortress. Balwadkar has risen from the ranks. His wife was also a corporator.

Dispute arose in the BJP over candidatures in Parvati and Kothrud. The party has retained the sitting MLAs – Patil and Madhuri Misal – from these segments. MLA Siddharth Shirole will contest from Shivajinagar.

Reacting to Balwadkar’s stance, Chandrakant Patil said that Balwadkar would not do anything to damage the party.