BJP’s open-door policy creates deep contention among loyalists: Shiv Sena (UBT)

The Shiv Sena UBT on Wednesday took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP for following an opendoor policy a pattern for the last 11 years of first accusing opposition leaders of corruption then letting them in after purifying them reported news agency IANSThe Thackeray camp in the partys mouthpiece Saamana said this opendoor policy has emerged as a point of deep contention for party veteransThe editorial referred to former BJP Minister Sudhir Mungantiwarrsquos outburst expressing significant discontent with the current state of the party comparing its organisational structure to the village of Shani Shingnapur known for houses without doors While the BJP secured the most seats in recent municipal council and nagar panchayat elections across Maharashtra the party suffered a major setback in Mungantiwarrsquos home district of Chandrapur reported IANSAddressing the BJPrsquos methodology Mungantiwar remarked that the BJP has adopted a formula where anyone can enter at any time and be absorbed into the partyHe specifically noted that in Chandrapur the BJP is the only party that effectively has no doors This sentiment extends beyond a single district reflecting a national trend where the BJP opens its doors to leaders from all political backgrounds said the editorialSudhir Mungantiwarrsquos frustration follows a poor showing in Chandrapur district electionsldquoThe veteran leaders frustration follows a poor showing in the Chandrapur district elections Of the 11 municipal seats the BJP won only two The Congress took seven seats while one went to an Independent and another to the Shinde faction Mungantiwar attributed the loss to internal factionalism and a lack of support from party leadership He claimed that while the Congress empowered its leaders his own party leaders worked to reduce his strengthrdquo said the editorial It further added ldquoHaving previously served as the states Finance Minister Mungantiwar was replaced by Ajit Pawar a move he perceives as a slight against his loyalty and capabilityrdquo said the editorial reported IANSAccording to the editorial the friction has led to public spats with other BJP members Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule remarked that losing is not simply a result of not having a ministerial post to which Mungantiwar retorted that Bawankule felt the same when his own power was reduced previously A newcomer at the party even taunted him by asking if he was following the path of former BJP minister Eknath Khadse it saidThe response to the suffocation felt by loyal party workers due to the influx of imported leaders from other parties Mungantiwar announced a Dialogue Tour across the state However the party leadership fearing a massive show of support from restless loyalists intervened immediately Consequently Mungantiwar cancelled the tour within a few hours said the editorial reported IANSThe Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena claimed that the Shani Shingnapur comparison remains a thorn in the side for Mungantiwar and many dedicated activists feel that the partys identity is being compromised by its opendoor policyWith inputs from IANS