What’s Leading Pankaja Munde to Rebel Against the BJP in Mumbai?

Is Pankaja Munde leading the front against Fadnavis or is the throwing her weight around in the BJP? 

(Photo: PTI)

Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam

The BJP, despite being the single largest party and forming government in Maharashtra remained unsuccessful. Now the frustration of the senior BJP leaders have started to show. Senior BJP leader Eknath Kharse's anger isn't alien to anyone but after Pankaja Munde expressed her frustration, it left the BJP on edge.

So what is up with the BJP and what does Pankaja Munde want?  

The same Pankaja Munde who came out to address the public after BJP's Assembly election defeat may have put a stop to the speculation of quitting the party, but she said that she will not be a part of Mumbai BJP's core team anymore. She also said that it is the BJP's decision whether to keep her in the party or not.

At Gopinath Munde's birth anniversary celebrations, state BJP president Chandrakanth Patil, Eknath Kharse former minister Prakash Mehta had attended. Kharse, during his speech spoke fiercely against former CM Devendra Fadnavis.

Fadnavis was made CM based on Munde’s advice Look what he did to me?  

Eknath Kharse, BJP Leader

He didn't stop there. He blamed a few BJP leaders for his daughter Rohini Kharse and Pankaja Munde's loss. But are some BJP leaders actually responsible for Pankaja Munde's loss? Because PM Modi and BJP President Amit Shah had campaigned extensively for Pankaja Munde, in her constitutency. Munde was the rural development minister in Fadnavis' cabinet for 5 years, but still lost by 32,000 votes to her brother Dhanjay Munde.

Why Did Pankaja Munde Rebel?

Is Pankaja leading the front against Fadnavis? Does Pankaja want to show off her strength to the party despite her loss? Is she after the position of leader of Opposition or state party president?   

A senior BJP leader told The Quint that if Pankaja is trying to get a seat, then she won't achieve much as long as Modi and Shah are around.

Along with the party, she is also trying to influence her vote bank. She has announced she will go on a day-long hunger strike to protest against farmer crisis. She will even tour Maharashtra. Reports say that Pankaja wants to take up the role of a big OBC leader in the state.

Maybe, it is her desire which led OBC leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule to say that a leader is defined by his work, not his caste. A ticket was denied to Vinod Tawde too. He wants to wash his hands off the party but hasn't been seen with Pankaja Munde yet.