Imported leaders seen as tainting BJP’s image

Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been under fire over its so-called ‘imported’ leaders over the past few months. MLA Shivaji Kardile, who ditched the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to join BJP ahead of the assembly elections in 2014, is allegedly the latest example of such leaders, sources claimed.

Member of Legislative Council  Prashant Paricharak, who used derogatory words against soldiers’ wives, and Shripad Chhindam, who disrespected Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, are other such imported leaders. The Ahmed-nagar violence and the Mr Kardile’s subsequent arrest have embarrassed the BJP.

Mr Kardile entered the BJP in 2014 after ditching the NCP but, the BJP opened its doors to many such leaders on ‘electoral merit’. He has been arrested for storming the office of the superintendent of police. It has resulted in a huge embarrassment for the BJP.

There are almost 40 MLAs in the BJP out of its 123 members who entered the party just before assembly elections. Even in local bodies elections in 2017, the BJP kept its door open for leaders from other parties.

Mr Chhindam, a former Congress leader from Ahmednagar, switched allegiance to the BJP and became deputy mayor of the Ahmednagar municipal Corporation. While speaking to labour contractors, he allegedly used derogatory language about Maratha king Shivaji. He was ousted from the BJP. The Ahmednagar police arrested him. This incident put the BJP on the back-foot.

Sources say

The Shiv Sena ministers met CM Fadnavis and demanded expulsion of Kardile from the BJP. The chief minister did not commit anything, but there will not be any action against Mr Kardile, they said.