Mumbai: State BJP’s so-called ‘imported’ leaders, who joined the party before the 2014 Lok Sabha and assembly elections are not happy because they think they are not getting proper treatment and benefits, said party sources.

CM Devendra Fadnavis has not accommodated such ‘imported’ leaders in any cabinet expansion or via appointments to corporations and trusts, fuelling their disenchantment, said sources.

“So, these imported leaders are unhappy on various issues and now they have started raising their voices openly in the disciplined party,” a BJP source said.

Many leaders were imported by BJP from Congress, NCP before 2014 elections to get power but were not accommodated in the ministry, corporations or trusts. Prasad Lad and Praveen Darekar are however the exceptions, who got entry on BJP tickets in the legislative council, sources said.  

But, Dr Vijaykumar Gavit, who was in NCP and an ex-minister, could not become a  minister. Former NCP state President Babanrao Pachpute has lost elections and is now marginalised in the BJP. Many unhappy ‘imported’ leaders are considering other options and ‘Gharvapasi’ before 2019 elections is one of them, said party sources.