The Bharatiya Janata Party (BIP), long renowned for its ‘party with a difference’ discipline, is facing unexpected fractures in its ranks in the run-up to the state assembly elections. While the candidates declare their independence from mandates and party alliance. Partners defy instructions, new portrait of strained BJP control emerges.

Former MP and party stalwart Gopal Shetty on Tuesday took a bold stand by filing his nomination as an independent for the Borivali assembly seat after years of serving the BJP – from corporator in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to MLA and then MP – Shetty’s displeasure is evident. Despite the consistent wins, Shetty feels ignored, citing frustration with the party’s decision to field candidates unrelated to the area. His comments were thinly veiled barbs aimed at candidates like Piyush Goyal, a South Mumbai resident selected for the Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat, and Vile Parle’s Vinod Tawade, elected for the 2014 Borivali assembly elections.

Shetty’s stand has sparked widespread curiosity: Will he stand firm or withdraw his nomination by November 4?

Awl Shah rebels against the party decision

Adding to the tension, Awl Shah, a senior BIP leader, almost rebelled against the party’s decision to select Shaina NC for the Mumbadevi constituency – an area he knows well. Shal’s resistance dissipated after the intervention of senior party figures, but the incident underscores the growing rifts in the BJP’s ranks.

The tremor extends to Thane’s Mira Bhayandar constituency, where sitting MLA Geeta Jain, frustrated by the BIP’s decision to support former MLA Narendra Mehta, filed her papers as an independent. Although Jain, an independent MLA, recently joined the BJP’s state assembly faction, her differences highlight dissatisfaction over the selection of candidates.

The situation in Sangli

In Sangli, a BJP stronghold in western Maharashtra, Samrat Mahadik threw his hat into the ring against the BJP’s official candidate, Satyajit Deshmukh – a former Congressman who only recently joined the party. Such internal clashes point to a broader pattern as local leaders begin to question the credentials of recent defectors and foreigners in key positions. Similarly, in Akola, BJP candidate Vijay Agarwal faces an unexpected challenger in the party ranks. Dr Ashok Olambe, general secretary of BJP’s OBC state cell, recently resigned and filed his nomination under the Prahar Janashakti banner.

This decision reflects simmering unrest in sections of the party and amplifies the perception of growing divisiveness. In Ghatkopar East, another infighting is brewing as BJP loyalists push for Prakash Mehta over incumbent MP Parag Shah. While Mehta ultimately chose not to file, the tension portends a deeper discord that could erode grassroots support for the incumbent, especially if local leaders withdraw their support. Adding further to BJP’s woes, Sandip Naik, son of veteran BJP MLA Ganesh Naik, has defected to Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) where he has now filed to contest against BJP MLA Manda Mhatre in Navi’s Belapur constituency Mumbai.

Location in Ashti, Beed District

In Ashti, Beed district, BJP candidate Suresh Dhas is under pressure from Ajit Pawar-led NCP MLA Balasaheb Ajabe, who has filed as the opposition candidate. The resulting tension points to a lack of cohesion within the Mahayuti (BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance), with members feeling neglected or marginalized. Notably, the Mahayuti alliance encountered friction outside the BJP as well. Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena wing created internal discord by issuing several AB forms in Nashik district, pitting Dhanraj Mahale against Narhari Zirwal in Dindori and Rajashree Ahirao against Saroj Ahire in Deolali – both NCP MLAs. This move demonstrates not only the defiance but also the factional tensions simmering within the alliance.

The Ajit Pawar-led NCP also chose to overlook the BJP’s opposition to Nawab Malik’s candidature in the Shivaji Nagar-Mankhurd constituency, a particularly controversial decision. Malik’s candidature has long been a sticking point for the BJP, which has consistently warned against his inclusion. In a telling response, the BJP opted not to campaign for Malik, signaling the limited influence of the “big brother” party over its alliance partners.

BJP’s resilience will be tested in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections

The upcoming elections will test the endurance of the BJP’s disciplined image as party loyalists and alliance members increasingly question central decisions and candidate choices. Cascading discontent over candidate selection may pose substantial challenges to the BJP’s grassroots mobilization and could shape the outcome of this election in unprecedented ways.

While the BJP has successfully projected an image of unity and discipline over the years, the current wave of rebellion suggests a more complicated reality beneath the surface. As candidates rally independently and alliance partners chart their own courses, the state assembly elections may reveal the extent of disillusionment within party ranks — disillusionment that could threaten the cohesion of the BJP’s hold on these key constituencies.