Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has cautioned party members against making remarks that could create rifts among allies in the ruling Mahayuti coalition, reported news agency PTI.
He asserted the BJP has to play the role of “elder brother” in the party-led alliance, which also consists of the Shiv Sena and NCP, headed by deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, respectively, reported PTI.
Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Bawankule noted Fadnavis held six divisional meetings of the BJP where he conveyed the message about not speaking against allies to party leaders and workers while holding deliberations with them over the upcoming local body polls in Maharashtra.
“No (BJP) leader will make any (divisive) comments about Mahayuti even if someone from the alliance partners is contesting against us (in local polls). We have to play the role of elder brother in the alliance. We have to give such a message to our workers,” he maintained, reported PTI.
Elections to 29 municipal corporations, including Mumbai, Thane and Nagpur, and a host of other urban and rural local bodies are due in Maharashtra.
Last month, the Supreme Court asked the Maharashtra State Election Commission to conduct polls to these local bodies by January 31, 2026.
Bawankule proposes appointment of `approved members` to local bodies
Earlier, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule had written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis proposing appointment of five members to District Councils and two others to Panchayat Committees as approved members, reported PTI.
Local body elections in Maharashtra are due to be held by the end of this year.
In the letter to CM Fadnavis, Bawankule said, “The proposed changes aim to allow the appointment of five approved members in District Councils and two in Panchayat Committees during local elections.”
In a post on X, he said the CM responded positively and instructed the Rural Development Department to initiate necessary action.
The reforms are expected to provide socially-oriented activists greater opportunities to participate in rural development processes, he said.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on October 6 carried out a surprise inspection at the Sub-Registrar’s Office in Nagpur following multiple complaints of officials allegedly demanding bribes from citizens.
(With inputs from PTI)
