BJP may fight solo at micro level but alliance with Shinde faction to remain at macro level: Chandrashekhar Bawankule

THANE: The BJP may contest the forthcoming civic elections in some cities independently following recommendations from its local units, party state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Saturday.
Bawankule was interacting with the media in Thane during the first ever show of strength for the BJP in chief minister Eknath Shinde’s dominion.
“We will definitely fight all state and Lok Sabha polls along with our alliance partner (Shinde faction Shiv Sena). But we have left the decision to forge an alliance or not with them (Shinde faction) at the local level to our BJP core committees working in the respective regions. We may have a friendly fight with the Shinde faction in those areas,” said Bawankule as he subtly hinted of the party wanting to show its prowess in certain cities including Thane that is a stronghold of not just Shinde but also the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
It may be noted several cities including Thane, Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Navi Mumbai and others are slated to go to the polls in the near future. The former minister and state BJP boss is on a state wide tour meeting fellow party workers and trying to understand the pulse of every district ahead of the crucial election season.
Even as the media questioned over any possible tension with the Shinde faction, Bawankule clarified the party is with the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and would put all its might behind them also. He also lauded Shinde and his rebellion saying the brave Maratha has suitably avenged the backstabbing of the Sena-BJP alliance by Thackeray in 2019 adding the Fadnavis-Shinde government would compensate the backlog of development works in the state during the MVA regime in the coming two years.
Attacking the MVA allies, he said it is unlikely that the MVA coalition would come to power again. He also chided Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo yatra claiming that it has seen a reverse impact with many leaders and party workers joining the BJP. “The coming days will see many inductions of leaders from the opposition to the BJP and they (opposition) are likely to face a tough time finding a candidate to even contest the 2024 polls,” he said.
He also pointed out the fractures appearing in the MVA coalition by highlighting the recent comments made by the Congress on the Sena. "The Congress has realised that Sena may eat into its traditional voter base and is slowly distancing itself from the coalition and making remarks on the Thackeray led Sena," he said.