Major rebellion hits Bharatiya Janata Party in Chandrapur ahead of local-body elections

Ahead of the municipal polls in Chandrapur district, several local BJP leaders have defected or rebelled, creating headaches for the party just before the nomination deadline.

Chandrapur, | Nov 17, 2025 – :
The Bharatiya Janata Party is grappling with an unexpected internal revolt in Chandrapur just days before the local body elections. With nominations now filed, several leaders who were once considered loyal party workers have either defected or chosen to contest as rebels. The situation has triggered concern among district-level and state-level leadership, who were expecting a smooth contest in a region traditionally seen as a BJP stronghold.

The elections in Chandrapur cover four municipal councils: Bhadrawati, Rajura, Warora, and Gadchandur. Each of these councils has now become a hotspot of political turbulence for the BJP. In Bhadrawati, City President Sunil Namojwar has walked out of the party and switched to the Congress, where he has secured a nomination for the municipal council chairperson’s post. His exit has sent a strong message, as he was not only a prominent face of the BJP locally but also an organisational link to grassroots workers.

In Rajura, sitting BJP corporator Rajendra Dohe has joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and is now contesting under their banner. This development is particularly significant because it signals strained relationships between the BJP and its allies as well as a growing sense of dissatisfaction among local representatives over ticket distribution.

Warora is seeing similar infighting, with former BJP member Vasudha Varghane filing her nomination as a rebel candidate and directly challenging the party’s official nominee, Maya Rajurkar. The party is now faced with the task of containing the damage and convincing voters that it remains united, even as infighting becomes more visible.

The situation in Gadchandur continues the trend. Independent candidate Nilesh Tajne has entered the fray, setting up a contest against BJP candidate Arun Dohe. While independent candidates are not new to local elections, the fact that several of them are disgruntled BJP workers makes the challenge more serious.

Insiders say that candidate selection has been the biggest source of conflict. Local leaders claim decisions were imposed from the top without taking district-level workers into confidence. This has led to resentment and a sense of exclusion, prompting multiple leaders to either quit or run independently. While Chandrapur has been one of the BJP’s strong regions in Vidarbha, political observers believe this rebellion could fracture the party’s core vote base and benefit rival fronts.

With nominations already closed, the BJP now has limited time to negotiate with rebels or initiate damage control. State leaders have begun reaching out to disgruntled members, but ground realities suggest that anger runs deep. With Congress, Shiv Sena and independents sensing an opportunity, Chandrapur’s civic polls are shaping up to be more unpredictable than the BJP expected.

The unfolding situation has also renewed the debate about internal democracy within political parties. Grassroots workers, who often carry the campaign on the ground, are increasingly vocal about being ignored when key decisions are made.

All eyes are now on the BJP’s next move. If the rebellion spreads further or if rebel candidates perform strongly, it could impact future elections in the region. For now, Chandrapur stands as a test case of whether the BJP can manage internal dissent quickly enough to protect its electoral influence.

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