The new state executive announced by Maharashtra unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has once again sidelined the senior leaders Eknath Khadse and Pankaja Munde. The BJP’s topmost leadership sent a message that former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will continue to hold sway over the Maharashtra BJP.
The state executive announced by State President Chandrakant Patil has 12 Vice Presidents, 6 General Secretaries, 12 Secretaries and one treasurer. The executive was announced almost four months after Patil was reappointed as state President in February.
The missing name in the office bearer list is Pankaja Munde, former minister and daughter of Gopinath Munde. She has revolted against leadership of Fadnavis. It was told by party leadership that she will be accommodated in central executive of the party. This means she will be out of the picture in state party affairs. To balance this, party leadership has accommodated Preetam Munde, Member of Parliament from Beed and younger sister of Pankaja as Vice President. Preetam is low profile and may not create any problem for leadership of Fadnavis.
Khadse on No.12
Khadse, the seniormost leader faced the expected negligence from party. He was not appointed as member of normal executive or office bearer. He was appointed as Special invitee in the executive. Despite being senior-most in the party, his name found place on number 12 in the list of Special invitees. Khadse was given place below names of Nitin Gadkari, Devendra Fadnavis and leaders like Narayan Rane, Ganesh Naik, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil who recently joined BJP. Party appointed Raksha Khadse, daughter in law of Eknath Khadse as Secretary of the party. She is also Member of Lok Sabha.
Pankaja munde found place on number ten, after the names of Vinod Tawade and Sudhir Mungantiwar.
Six Vice Presidents
Dr. Sanjay Kute, right hand person of Fadanvis was appointed as Vice President. He was core committee member of the party while finalizing the Assembly election candidates. He is prominent OBC face of the party and was minister for OBC welfare during last six months of Fadnavis government. Former Ministers Jaykumar Rawal and Ram Shinde were also appointed as Vice Presidents. Chandrashekhar Bawankule, close aid of Nitin Gadkari, who was denied ticket during Assembly election was finally accommodated as General Secretary.
Madhav Bhandari, Chief Spokesperson of BJP,who was once again denied chance to enter in the legislative council was accommodated as Vice President. Keshav Upadhye was appointed as new Chief Spokesperson of the party. Vishwas Pathak was appointed Head of Media Cell.