Mumbai: In a significant political development, all corporators who rebelled alongside Sandeep Naik during the assembly elections have officially returned to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Their late-night induction on Tuesday in Mumbai took place in the presence of BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule and working president Ravindra Chavan.
The return of these former corporators was orchestrated under the leadership of Maharashtra’s Forest Minister Ganesh Naik and former MP Sanjeev Naik. However, their re-entry was met with strong resistance from senior BJP workers, who had earlier protested against their inclusion. This opposition initially delayed their induction, but after Ganesh Naik’s intervention, the issue was resolved, allowing them back into the party fold.
BJP Loyalists Question “Homecoming” of Rebels
These corporators had actively campaigned for Sandeep Naik against BJP’s official candidate Manda Mhatre, creating deep rifts within the party. Several senior BJP leaders had demanded that the rebels not be welcomed back, given their role in the previous elections. However, the BJP leadership, considering the upcoming municipal elections and the need to consolidate the party’s position, decided to grant them entry.
Sandeep Naik, who had defected to the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) after failing to secure a BJP ticket, had made multiple attempts—from Maharashtra to Delhi—to secure a nomination. However, under the “one ticket per family” rule, the BJP ticket was given to his father, Ganesh Naik, forcing Sandeep to seek alternatives. Determined to contest, he joined the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and launched a fierce battle against Manda Mhatre.
Were Voters Taken for Granted?
Now, with Naik’s supporters returning to the BJP, political observers question whether this was a strategic move all along. Their re-entry, officially overseen by state BJP president Ravindra Chavan, has reignited internal conflict between the old BJP loyalists and the returning Naik faction. Many BJP workers who stayed loyal through the elections now wonder if they will be sidelined in favor of returning rebels.
Additionally, there are concerns about how voters will perceive this political shift. During the campaign, Sandeep Naik’s team had extensively distributed NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) materials featuring the party’s symbol, the “man blowing a trumpet”, and were confident of contesting the municipal elections under the same banner. However, after Sandeep Naik’s defeat, his supporters grew anxious, eventually orchestrating their return to the BJP.
Now, as Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) leaders who backed Sandeep Naik feel betrayed, the big question remains: Will BJP’s original workers and voters accept these returning rebels? The coming municipal elections will likely determine whether the Naik faction’s political maneuvering pays off—or backfires.
