Political Turmoil in Amaravati: BJP Candidates Demand Action Against Navneet Rana

In a dramatic turn of events following the elections, 22 candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to remove former MP Navneet Rana from her position within the Amaravati Municipal Corporation (AMC). The candidates allege that Rana undermined the party by campaigning against its nominees. The elections held on January 15 saw a significant decline in the number of seats won by the BJP, intensifying accusations of betrayal within the fractured alliance.

In the 87-member AMC, the BJP secured only 25 seats, a sharp drop from the 45 it held previously. In contrast, Ravi Rana's Youth Self-Respect Party (YSP) increased its representation from 3 to 15 seats. Other parties also made gains, with Congress winning 15 seats, AIMIM 12, NCP 11, Shiv Sena 3, BSP 3, Shiv Sena (UBT) 2, and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi 1 seat. Prior to the elections, the BJP and YSP, led by MLA Ravi Rana (Navneet's husband), had severed ties, yet a local BJP leader insisted that Navneet would support the saffron candidates. However, she reportedly labeled BJP candidates as "fools" and presented YSP as the "real BJP."

Among the 22 complainants, 20 lost their elections while 2 emerged victorious, yet all pointed to Navneet's interference as a key factor. In their letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, they stated, "We are dedicated and hardworking party workers connected to the community. Our losses were not due to the opposition but because senior BJP leader Navneet Rana openly campaigned against us." They warned that retaining Navneet in the party could weaken the BJP's hold in Amaravati and demanded her immediate expulsion.

As of now, Navneet Rana has not responded, leaving the controversy unresolved. This rift highlights the deepening divisions within the Maharashtra BJP, particularly in the Vidarbha region, following the collapse of the alliance.