Disappointed with the party’s decision, senior BJP leader Gopal Shetty, a prominent contender for Mumbai’s Borivali Assembly seat, has announced his intention to run as an independent candidate.
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In Mumbai, a protest by BJP workers erupted against their own party following the decision to nominate an “outsider” for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly election. Displeased with this choice, senior BJP leader Gopal Shetty, who was a prominent candidate for the seat, declared his intention to run as an independent candidate.
“It is essential to challenge the practice of selecting candidates from outside, so I will contest as an independent,” Mr. Shetty stated in an interview with NDTV. “Regardless of the outcome, I will not withdraw,” he affirmed.
The BJP has chosen Sanjay Upadhyay, the general secretary of its Mumbai unit, to replace the incumbent legislator Sunil Rane in Borivali. Mr. Shetty expressed that he had initially not intended to run in this election, but his supporters emphasized the seriousness of the situation. “First, Vinod Tawde contested from here in 2014, followed by Sunil Rane in 2019. Now, for the fourth time, Upadhyay has been nominated,” he remarked, noting that Mr. Upadhyay does not reside in Borivali.
Mr. Shetty revealed that he learned of his party’s decision through a “TV flash.” “I saw a TV flash announcing that Sanjay Upadhyay received a BJP ticket from Borivali.”
In a prior address to party workers and supporters, he reiterated his choice to run as an independent candidate, emphasizing his continued support for BJP’s ideologies and policies. “The BJP workers believe I should contest from here. Even members of other parties feel the same. However, the people of Borivali have conveyed to me that if I do not rectify this situation, no one will dare to confront such injustices. Therefore, I will oppose this erroneous decision. I am not against the BJP’s policies or ideologies; I support the BJP and Devendra Fadnavis. But I will contest this decision.”
“I have resolved to submit my nomination form tomorrow and participate in the election,” he concluded.
Mr. Shetty expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that he was not consulted before the decision was made. “They did not seek my input prior to this decision. A discussion should have taken place. This is an affront to the workers of Borivali,” a visibly upset Shetty remarked.
In response, many of his supporters organized a sit-in protest against the party’s decision, with several asserting that this move could jeopardize the BJP’s hold on a traditionally secure seat.
“He will secure victory by a significant margin. We are unfamiliar with Sanjay Upadhyay. They have turned Borivali into a guesthouse,” commented a BJP member.
“Gopal Shetty should run as an independent candidate; he will prevail. The BJP is likely to lose this seat,” they added.
Mr. Shetty, who served as a Member of Parliament in both 2014 and 2019, was not granted a ticket for the North Mumbai constituency in the upcoming general elections, with the party instead nominating Union Minister Piyush Goyal.
The BJP has declared its intention to contest 146 of the 288 available seats, reserving four seats for its allies, including the Yuva Swabhiman Party, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, Republican Party of India (Athavale), and Jan Surajya Shakti Paksha. The remaining 138 seats are allocated to Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP.
Maharashtra is scheduled to hold elections on November 20, with results expected to be announced on November 23.
