Nashik: Following its impressive performance in the municipal council and municipal corporation elections, the Shiv Sena has carried out major organisational changes in the Nashik district with the aim of strengthening the party structure. Senior leader and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced a significant reshuffle in the district.
As part of the changes, MLA Suhas Kande has been appointed as the contact leader for the Nashik Lok Sabha constituency, while Bhausaheb Chaudhary has been assigned responsibility for the Dindori and Dhule Lok Sabha constituencies. These changes are being seen as an attempt to end the growing factionalism within the party. How effective this move proves to be remains to be seen.
In the earlier phase of the municipal council elections, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena had achieved remarkable success in Nashik district. The party won the posts of municipal council presidents in politically significant towns such as Igatpuri, Trimbakeshwar, Satana, Nandgaon and Manmad. Subsequently, in the municipal corporation elections, the party secured 26 corporators in Nashik and 18 in Malegaon.
Notably, the party achieved this success without an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, after the civic polls, an alliance between Shiv Sena and BJP was announced in the Nashik Municipal Corporation. Tensions surfaced within the party when the name of Vilas Shinde was suddenly announced for the deputy mayor’s post, despite expectations that the post would go to the Sena.
Metropolitan chief Pravin Tidme, who was a contender for the deputy mayor’s post, accused deputy leader Ajay Boraste of “projecting” Vilas Shinde, a recent entrant to the party. Tidme even announced his resignation, though he later withdrew the decision after being persuaded. Despite this, factionalism within the party persisted.
Against this backdrop, the new appointments are being viewed as a strategic move. The party leadership has placed its trust in MLA Suhas Kande by handing him responsibility for the Nashik Lok Sabha constituency. It is being said that his elevation is based on factors such as the influence of the Vanjari community in the district, its aggressive political presence, and Kande’s strong opposition to Chhagan Bhujbal.
On the other hand, Bhausaheb Chaudhary, who had been sidelined in district politics for some time, has been rehabilitated politically and entrusted with the responsibility of the Baglan, Malegaon Outer and Malegaon Central Assembly segments falling under the Dindori and Dhule parliamentary constituencies.
Questions are being raised over the fact that Dadaji Bhuse, who represents Nashik in the state cabinet, has not been given any organisational role. Although Bhuse represents the Malegaon Outer Assembly constituency, which falls under the Dhule Lok Sabha segment, the responsibility for that area has been handed to Chaudhary.
Since Ajay Boraste already holds the post of deputy leader in the district, political observers are keenly watching what role, if any, will now be assigned to Bhuse.
