An emotionally charged episode played out on Friday in Prabhag No. 13 (Pandharabodi / Gandhinagar / Bhiwsenkhori / Madhavnagar), where uncertainty over the Open (13-D) ticket led to a seven-hour standoff involving BJP aspirant Kisan Gawande. The incident underscored how local sentiment, organisational influence and vote calculations intersected within the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Gawande said he had been asked a day earlier by city BJP president Daya Shankar Tiwari to withdraw his nomination to make way for Vijay Hole. When he attempted to step out on Friday morning to complete the formalities, supporters urged him to stay back, citing fears that their area would again lose representation. The situation persisted from 8 am to nearly 1 pm, with workers gathered outside his residence.
BJP MLC Parinay Fuke later intervened, held discussions at the spot, and spoke to Devendra Fadnavis over the phone, after which Gawande submitted his withdrawal.
Party sources said confusion over A and B forms and organisational lobbying, including references to about 4,000 votes from pockets in the Chief Minister’s south-west assembly constituency, added urgency to the decision-making. Political observers noted that the episode exposed internal stress within the BJP and could shape voter perceptions in this multi-member ward.
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