Pune: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Pune Lok Sabha candidate, Girish Bapat, received a setback in his first election campaign rally in Kothrud on Tuesday.
Kothrud is considered to be a bastion of the BJP, however the rally did not receive the expected response.
Party sources explained the lukewarm response as being due to the lengthy nature of the programme.
The BJP announced Girish Bapat as its official candidate on March 23 by sidelining sitting MP Anil Shirole.
Following the announcement, Bapat conducted a joint meeting of BJP-Shiv Sena corporators.
Medha Kulkarni of the Bharatiya Janata Party is the sitting MLA representing the Kothrud Assembly constituency. Besides, the first PMC Standing Committee chairmanship went to Kothrud local corporator Murli Mohol. Hence the party anticipated a good response for the first rally.
Union Human Resource Minister Prakash Javadekar also addressed this rally. However, people left the rally midway. Javdekar and Bapat both had to speak to vacant chairs.
When contacted, Yogesh Gogawale, City Unit President of the party said, “The programme was prolonged. Therefore, some people left the rally. But, the overall programme was good.”
Some party workers, on condition of anonymity, said, “The rally was supposed to start at 5.30 pm, but started at 6.30 pm. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar came in at 7.30 pm. The BJP and Shiv Sena leaders delivered speeches so the programme was further extended. The delay affected the response and people started leaving the venue midway. People from Kothrud are very particular about time. They do not like their time being wasted,” they said.
Bapat meets MP Kakade
Pune Guardian Minister Girish Bapat met BJP-supported MP of Rajya Sabha Sanjay Kakade on Wednesday at his residence and discussed the election campaign. Kakade said, “After declaring the Pune candidate, all party workers should work together. It is the party protocol. So, I have decided to actively participate in the campaigning for western Maharashtra election.”
