The Bharatiya Janata Party is experiencing a significant internal rebellion in Mumbai and throughout Maharashtra, deviating from its usual organizational discipline. In North Mumbai, former MP Gopal Shetty has decided to rebel against the party’s chosen candidate, while in Mira-Bhayandar, associate MLA Geeta Jain is preparing to run independently.
Shetty, who wanted to be a candidate from Borivali, expressed his dissatisfaction after the party selected Mumbai general secretary Sanjay Upadhyay for the constituency he previously represented. Despite efforts by the party to reconcile, Shetty submitted his nomination as an independent on the final day, Tuesday. In Mumbadevi, the party’s decision to nominate Shaina NC as the candidate against Congress’s Amin Patel, backed by Shiv Sena’s Shinde, has caused further dissent. Former MLA Atul Shah has announced his intention to run, protesting what he views as “the imposition of an outsider” in the constituency.
Party insiders have noted that this open rebellion is unprecedented, with no similar incidents in the past decade. The dissent has spread to Navi Mumbai, where former MLA Sandeep Naik is challenging party candidate Manda Mhatre in the Belapur constituency. It is worth mentioning that Sandeep’s father and former state minister Ganesh Naik is the BJP candidate in the adjacent Airoli constituency.
Shetty’s rebellion poses a significant challenge for the party, given his strong influence in Borivali, where he has held multiple positions as corporator, MLA, and MP. “There is no question of reversing the decision. I will not be joining any other party and I am still in dialogue with party leadership,” Shetty stated. “I had invited Sanjay Upadhyay to join me in filing the nomination. My decision to run independently is supported by the party workers and voters in the constituency as they do not approve of an outsider as their candidate.”
Meanwhile, BJP MLA Ashish Shelar visited Shetty on Monday in an attempt to control the damage. In Mumbadevi, Shah expressed similar sentiments: “I have worked tirelessly for the area as a corporator and MLA in the past, despite which the party has chosen someone who has no connection to Mumbadevi. The party did not consult with me before announcing the candidacy.”
The rebellion is not limited to the BJP. In the Mahayuti alliance, NCP-Ajit Pawar’s Sameer Bhujbal has filed a nomination from Nandgaon against Shiv Sena-Shinde’s candidate Suhas Kande. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi is also facing challenges, with Shiv Sena-UBT leader Baburao Mane announcing his plan to run independently against Congress’s Jyoti Gaikwad in Dharavi.
