Blame game in BJP after defeat in Nanded polls

After a poor performance in Nanded civic poll, THE blame game began in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Sacked BJP leader and 'Mukhyamantri Mitra' Pravin Jethawad said that party spokesperson Shweta Shalini was responsible for the defeat of the party in the civic polls. He said that Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Chikhalikar being BJP’s poll-incharge fielded an outsider in the civic poll. However, Shalini denied the allegations.

Jethawad, who was sacked from the party as he opposed the party’s decision to assign all rights of the party to Chikhalikar, the Sena legislator. In an audio tape viral in social media revealed the dialogues between Jethawad and Shalini, party spokesperson.

While speaking with Free Press Journal, Jethawad affirmed about the audio tape and said that Shalini is the only responsible person for the defeat of BJP.

“I tried to convince the party leadership, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. I informed party leadership that Chikhalikar will finish the presence of the party in Nanded. But nobody took me seriously,” said Jethawad.

He further said, “Chikhalikar brought sitting corporator from Shiv Sena and Congres and fielded them as BJP candidate in poll. However, only one original candidate from BJP won the election. Remaining give are from Sena and Congress.” Jethawad claimed BJP had given party fund of Rs 25 crore which was not spent on poll.

Meanwhile, Swheta Shalini said that she was not associated with the Nanded Poll. “It’s my duty to listen any party worker and hence I took cognizance of Jethwad. In fact, I did now know him.” She further said, “I can’t react on why the party had given responsibility of civic poll to Pratap Chikhalikar. Being party spokesperson, it is my duty to play the bridge between party and the party workers and I did that only.”

Chikhalikar was not available for comment.