On Tuesday, December 30, the Bharatiya Janata Party faced backlash for nominating relatives of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, a decision perceived as contradicting its declared stance against dynastic politics in local elections.
The BJP has awarded tickets to three individuals from Narwekar’s family — his brother and former corporator Makarand Narwekar, sister-in-law Harshita Narwekar, and cousin Gauravi Shivalkar-Narwekar — in the upcoming BMC elections.
In defense of the party’s choice, Rahul Narwekar stated that the candidates were selected based on their achievements in their respective wards. “There’s no competitor for Makarand or Harshita because of their effective service. I believe the Opposition has no chance of winning these seats. The party will certainly hold onto them,” he informed reporters.
This decision has sparked concerns as the BJP has consistently claimed it opposes dynastic politics, especially in local body elections. As reported by PTI, the three candidates are anticipated to submit their nomination papers alongside the Assembly Speaker.
Elections for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the BMC, are set for January 15, with vote counting scheduled for the day after. The final date for submitting nominations is Tuesday, with withdrawals allowed until January 2.
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