In Maharashtra, preparations are underway for the upcoming assembly elections, and the BJP’s state leadership is gearing up. On August 23, BJP Maharashtra President Chandra Shekhar Bawankule made a significant statement. He said that if any leader insists on contesting the elections from seats of the allies in the Mahayuti (grand alliance), the party cannot stop them from leaving if they choose to.

Bawankule asked party members who want tickets for the elections to be patient. When asked by the media in Nagpur about speculations that BJP leaders Samarjeet Ghatge (from Akola) and Harshvardhan Patil (from Pune district) might join the opposition NCP (Sharad Pawar) if they do not get their preferred seats, Bawankule responded that the party cannot stop them if they decide to leave.

What Did Bawankule Say?
There is discussion that Ghatge wants a ticket from the Kagal assembly seat in Kolhapur district, while Patil wants to contest from his previous seat, Indapur in Pune district. Both these seats are currently held by the NCP, a BJP ally led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Bawankule said, “We want them to wait, but if they have already decided to switch sides, we cannot stop them.”

He also mentioned that several leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) might join the BJP, but it does not guarantee them tickets. He emphasized that the party will decide on ticket distribution based on patience and other factors.