Maharashtra Elections: Another Jolt To BJP As Former MP Gopal Shetty Files Nomination As Independent

Maharashtra Assembly Elections: The BJP is facing rebellions from senior leaders over the denial of tickets to the upcoming assembly polls.

Maharashtra Assembly elections: Gopal Shetty has filed his nomination for the Borivali seat as an independent.

Source : Facebook@GopalShetty.Official

In a big setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, former MP Gopal Shetty has rebelled against the party and filed his nomination as an independent candidate. Shetty was hoping for a ticket to the Maharashtra Assembly polls from the BJP after being denied one in the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year. 

Wah kya scene hai 😅

Bjp supporters fighting with each other's in Borivali
Modi magic is over in Bjp's bastion seat borivali as Gopal Shetty rebels against PM modi's most favorite candidate Sanjay Upadhyay
pic.twitter.com/SlGaQKoI1d

— Pritesh Shah (@priteshshah_) October 29, 2024

The former president of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Mumbai unit said he did not aspire for a ticket, but was upset over an "outsider" getting the ticket. Gopal Shetty said: "This is not about me not getting a ticket. I did not ask for a ticket. But party workers suggested my name...One of the local Borivali workers should get a ticket..." The BJP leadership has fielded Sanjay Upadhyay, who is presently the Secretary for BJP Maharashtra.

Maharashtra: Former BJP MP Gopal Shetty will file his nomination as an independent candidate today after not receiving a BJP ticket for the Borivali seat pic.twitter.com/g3BR3pukhL

— IANS (@ians_india) October 29, 2024

Former BJP Corporator Atul Shah Rebels

In another major upset for the BJP, former corporator Atul Shah rebelled and filed his nomination as an independent candidate from Mumbadevi Assembly constituency after the party decided to allot the seat to its ally, the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde). Interestingly, Shaina NC joined the Shiv Sena after Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde offered to field the former BJP spokesperson from the Mumbadevi seat. Shaina NC will fight Amin Patel of Congress.

Atul Shah said: "I have been representing the Mumbadevi seat for the last many years and now, someone else is being given the ticket. This is not a musical chair. This is an election...The leadership should also know that if it is their mistake, there is still time to change it. We are loyalists of the party, we also make mistakes; mistakes can also be made by the leadership. That is my appeal to my leadership that there is still time." 

The BJP is also staring at a rebellion in the Akola West Assembly Constituency, where senior party leader and former Akola mayor Harish Alimchandani decided to contest as an independent candidate. Alimchandani was upset after BJP's former mayor Vijay Aggarwal was given a ticket from Akola.