"Badlapur Turns Political Battleground: BJP, Shiv Sena Lock Horns Over Ward Demarcation"

The BJP leader’s complaint is not limited to raising concerns about procedural irregularities — it also signals a deeper rift between the two former allies, with accusations that boundaries have been drawn with the intention of giving an undue advantage to specific leaders. He has formally written to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the State Election Commission, urging them to take note of the matter and initiate corrective action.

 

In his letter, BJP MLA and local leader Kisan Kathore alleged that during the ward formation for the Kulgaon–Badlapur Municipal Council — which falls within his assembly constituency — the process was carried out in violation of prescribed norms. According to Kathore, Chief Officer Maruti Gaikwad oversaw a plan in which around 15 to 16 wards were deliberately shaped to favour one political faction. He further claimed that while reserving wards for Scheduled Castes and other categories, the demarcations were made keeping in mind particular candidates, effectively skewing the playing field in their favour.

 

Kathore has demanded that the present ward formation be scrapped altogether and that a thorough inquiry be ordered into the role of Gaikwad. He stressed that the credibility of the upcoming elections depends on a transparent and impartial process.

 

The current political context makes the allegations even more sensitive. In the previous Kulgaon–Badlapur Municipal Council elections, the Sena and BJP contested against each other, with the Sena winning 25 out of 47 seats, the BJP securing 20, and the NCP taking two. Now, with civic body polls fast approaching, all municipal councils are in the midst of preparing their ward formation drafts, a process handled by the administrative heads of the respective local bodies.

 

Reacting to the allegations, Chief Officer Maruti Gaikwad categorically rejected the claims, insisting that the process followed all legal norms. He explained that the draft has been submitted to higher authorities and is only the first version. “This is merely the initial draft of the ward formation. It will be published soon to invite public suggestions and objections. Any necessary amendments will be incorporated before the final wards are approved by the State Government’s Urban Development Department,” Gaikwad stated, dismissing the charge of bias as baseless.

 

The Shiv Sena, for its part, has also pushed back against the BJP leader’s accusations. Shridhar Patil, group leader of the Sena in the Badlapur Municipal Council, suggested that Kathore had been misinformed, leading him to make these claims. “Thane district has long been a stronghold of the Sena led by Eknath Shinde. Even during the last elections, the BJP and our party contested separately, and we emerged victorious. No political party has the authority to interfere in the ward formation process — it is entirely in the hands of the municipal administration,” Patil emphasised.

 

The episode underscores the growing competitive edge between the BJP and Sena in regions where they once worked in close political partnership. With the civic polls on the horizon, the dispute over ward boundaries is set to be closely watched, as both parties look to strengthen their position in one of the politically significant municipal councils of the state.