In Latur, Maharashtra, the grand alliance between BJP and NCP disbanded just before the municipal elections on January 15. The BJP's Latur election in-charge and MLA Sambhaji Rao Patil Nilangekar announced on the last day for nominations that the party will now contest all 70 seats independently.
The BJP had attempted to form a coalition with the NCP. Despite the wishes of senior NCP leaders, interference from lower-level officials thwarted this alliance.
This local level obstruction has dramatically altered the entire electoral strategy.
Why Did the Alliance Break?
According to agency reports, Sambhaji Rao Patil Nilangekar told journalists that discussions between BJP and NCP were heading in a positive direction. He claimed that senior district-level NCP leaders were ready to join forces.
However, second and third-tier workers and officials created obstacles in the process. This grassroots interference shut down the path to alliance. Nilangekar clarified that BJP will now rely on its own strength rather than depend on any other party.
What Will BJP's Strategy Be Now?
With Tuesday being the last day for nominations, the BJP has made its strategy clear. Party candidates will independently contest all 70 seats of the Latur municipal corporation. The BJP will now reach out to the public on its own and intensify its election campaign. This breakdown of the grand alliance in Latur could make the upcoming elections politically intriguing. For the January 15 voting, the BJP has fully prepared and reiterated its commitment to fight alone.
