Local Self-Government Elections: BJP’s “Devabhau Pattern” in Pune District

Pune, Special Correspondent: For the upcoming local self-government elections in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set a goal of “100% BJP,” and the party leadership has taken a step forward by appointing district election chiefs and in-charges. Notably, in Pune district—considered a stronghold of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)—the BJP is preparing to implement the “Devabhau pattern.”

For the local body elections, the BJP announced district election chiefs and in-charges. In Pune district, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has strong influence in rural areas, leading to direct BJP vs. NCP contests. Consequently, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has taken decisive measures to assert the party’s presence.

Mahesh Landge, BJP MLA from Bhosari (Pimpri-Chinchwad), has been given the responsibility of “District Election Chief” for Pune North (Maval). Meanwhile, Rahul Kul has been appointed as the election chief for South Pune district (Baramati). Both Landge and Kul are known as leaders who directly challenge Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar at the local level.

Earlier, MLA Mahesh Landge had publicly demanded, “Divide Pune district and rename North Pune as ‘Shivneri.’” This sparked a political rivalry between Ajit Pawar and Landge. Later, Landge also took on Pawar in the assembly elections. In 2017, along with the late MLA Laxman Jagtap, Landge wrested control of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation for the BJP, breaking Ajit Pawar’s stronghold.

On the other hand, MLA Rahul Kul’s wife, Kanchan Kul, contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections against Baramati MP Supriya Sule. Earlier, in 2009, the NCP had supported a rebel candidate in the assembly elections, which angered Rahul Kul, leading him to join the BJP in 2019. Kul is known as a leader who directly challenges the Pawar family.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has given significant authority to MLAs Mahesh Landge and Rahul Kul. Therefore, political observers note that the BJP has decided to implement the “Devabhau pattern” to secure victories in Pune North and South in the upcoming local body elections.

Devabhau’s “Command” in Pune District
Interestingly, despite influential leaders like Ministers Chandrakant Patil, Madhuri Misal, and MLA Siddharth Shirole being present in Pune, the new leader Ganesh Bidkar has been entrusted with responsibility. In Pimpri-Chinchwad, leaders like former MP Amar Sable, Legislative Council MLA Amit Gorakhe, and former Authority Chairman Sadashiv Khade are present, yet MLA Shankar Jagtap has been appointed as election chief. Additionally, Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol has been made Pune district election in-charge. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis himself is the ex-officio chairman of Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority. Hence, Fadnavis has established “command” over Pune district’s local body elections from the very first stage.

Bidkar in Pune, Jagtap in Pimpri-Chinchwad…
Ganesh Bidkar has been appointed as the local body election chief for Pune Municipal Corporation, while MLA Shankar Jagtap is the election chief for Pimpri-Chinchwad. Both Bidkar and Jagtap are loyal to Chief Minister Fadnavis. There were some disagreements over appointments for city president positions in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. By giving opportunities to Ghatne in Pune and Kate in Pimpri-Chinchwad as city presidents, there was some dissatisfaction among Bidkar and Jagtap. To prevent this “internal conflict” from affecting the upcoming municipal elections, the city presidents were not made election chiefs; instead, responsibility was given to Bidkar from Pune and Jagtap from Pimpri-Chinchwad. If the municipal elections are conducted on their own strength, Bidkar and Jagtap will also have to bear responsibility for BJP’s “performance.” Meanwhile, the NCP, along with Ajit Pawar’s faction, will have to strategize at the local level to counter them.