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By:

Rajendra Pandharpure

15 April 2025 at 7:55:54 pm

Fadnavis’s Report-Card Warning Rattles Pune BJP

A poor turnout at a crucial campaign meeting has exposed concerns over organisational complacency, civic engagement and the widening gap between the BJP’s electoral dominance and its grassroots performance. Pune’s political circles are abuzz after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis delivered an unusually sharp reprimand to BJP corporators, warning them against seeking positions without demonstrating their commitment to the party. “If you come only to ask for positions, I will pull out the...

Fadnavis’s Report-Card Warning Rattles Pune BJP

A poor turnout at a crucial campaign meeting has exposed concerns over organisational complacency, civic engagement and the widening gap between the BJP’s electoral dominance and its grassroots performance. Pune’s political circles are abuzz after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis delivered an unusually sharp reprimand to BJP corporators, warning them against seeking positions without demonstrating their commitment to the party. “If you come only to ask for positions, I will pull out the ‘report card’ of each one of you,” he cautioned at a campaign meeting for the Legislative Council elections to the Teachers’ and Graduates’ constituencies. The remark has resonated within the BJP, exposing growing unease over the functioning of its local organisation despite its commanding majority in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). But it was the circumstances that preceded the outburst that have drawn attention: poor attendance by corporators from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad at a meeting convened by the Chief Minister himself, amid complaints that several elected representatives were not actively participating in the election campaign. Low Turnout Fadnavis was reportedly already displeased with the lack of involvement. The thin attendance only aggravated his concerns, prompting him to question Pune’s low voter turnout in comparison with the 80 per cent recorded in the Konkan constituency. His message was unambiguous: the party’s shortcomings needed to be addressed, and its representatives had to get back to work. The episode has brought into focus a paradox confronting the BJP in Pune. Despite its numerical strength in the civic body, the party has struggled to establish the same visibility and political aggression displayed by opposition corporators, particularly those from the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar). Opposition representatives have continued to command media attention, raising questions about whether the BJP’s overwhelming numbers have translated into effective political engagement. The concern is not new. Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol had earlier convened a meeting with BJP corporators to impress upon them the need to become more active and responsive. Yet, according to party insiders, the desired improvement has remained elusive. Local leaders have also flagged poor attendance at municipal proceedings and a lack of enthusiasm for expanding the party’s membership base. For a party that places considerable emphasis on discipline and cadre mobilisation, the disconnect between electoral strength and day-to-day political activity presents an uncomfortable challenge. Complacency of Power The BJP’s success in securing a commanding position in the PMC may itself have contributed to a degree of complacency. With no major general election immediately on the horizon, some elected representatives appear to be concentrating more on individual ambitions than on strengthening the organisation, according to a BJP office-bearer. Pune is witnessing major infrastructure initiatives involving the Metro, a ring road, airport development and river rejuvenation. The BJP leadership is keen that these projects become part of a visible political narrative, demonstrating the benefits of the party’s presence in power at both the state and national levels. However, development projects do not automatically translate into political dividends. If party representatives fail to connect these initiatives with citizens, the political advantage of being in government can diminish. The leadership’s concern, therefore, is about whether the local organisation is adequately equipped to convert governance into public support. Fadnavis’s unusually stern tone has also invited interpretations about his broader approach to party management. Generally regarded as measured in his public interventions, the Chief Minister appeared unwilling to tolerate what he perceives as a weakening of organisational discipline. The BJP has, by and large, avoided the kind of debilitating factionalism that has weakened the Congress in Maharashtra. The leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Fadnavis remains firmly established within the party. But leadership cohesion at the top does not necessarily guarantee efficiency at the local level. The challenge is to ensure that discipline and political energy permeate the organisation beyond its senior ranks. The unease is compounded by complaints over the selection of candidates for the Teachers’ and Graduates’ constituencies. Some party members have questioned whether geographical representation was adequately balanced and whether the contributions of workers have received due recognition. Such grievances could complicate an election campaign in which the BJP is already anticipating a stiff contest in the Teachers’ constituency.

Dangerous Departures

Correspondent
Oct 29, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Oct 30, 2024

Dangerous Departures

In yet another shocking incident adding to Mumbai’s infamous tryst with stampedes, chaos erupted at Mumbai’s Bandra Terminus following a weekend stampede that left at least ten persons injured, two critically so. A crowd surged toward the Gorakhpur-bound train with nearly 1,500 people vying for seats in 22 unreserved compartments, leading to the stampede. Several others narrowly avoided tragedy, with some even pushed onto the tracks. This is not a unique episode but rather a recurring theme in Mumbai’s bedevilled crowd management, one that has haunted the city’s public spaces, particularly as festive seasons magnify the crowds.


Mumbai is no stranger to stampedes. A horrifying incident in 2017 at Elphinstone Road Station left 23 people dead and nearly 50 injured. The cause was a familiar one: an overwhelming crowd confined to a narrow footbridge during peak rush hour. The tragedy sparked an outcry, with promises from authorities to upgrade infrastructure and enhance safety protocols. Yet seven years on, crowd-related incidents continue to be a constant danger. Today’s incident reveals a similar lapse—a lack of foresight in managing the thousands who gather on platforms ahead of Diwali, eager to return to family. That the Gorakhpur Express was unreserved and heavily crowded was predictable.


The issue lies beyond simply crowd density; it is emblematic of deeper systemic negligence. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), responsible for local public safety, along with the Railways Ministry, bear responsibility for ensuring order at such high-risk hubs. Although the BMC acknowledged the “festive rush,” it appears little was done to pre-empt it. Swift action could have been taken to either disperse the crowd or reroute passengers. Instead, chaos prevailed.


Political reaction has been swift but uninspiring. Aaditya Thackeray, son of Uddhav Thackeray, launched a scathing attack on the Union Railways Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, branding the incident a result of the minister’s “incapable” leadership. This hardly addresses the immediate need: a substantive plan to manage crowds and prevent similar incidents.


Mumbai’s transport infrastructure remains sorely outdated. Platforms are undersized, signalling systems frequently falter, and crowd control mechanisms are grossly inadequate. Despite repeated accidents, there has been little investment in comprehensive crowd management systems or the deployment of personnel trained in emergency response. While railway footbridges were widened after the Elphinstone tragedy, Bandra’s incident demonstrates that such incremental changes are insufficient. Mumbai, which sees a swelling populace during festivals, demands a robust strategy to address its vulnerabilities. This should include technology-driven crowd monitoring, clear communication channels to inform passengers of platform conditions, and additional security and medical staff on high-demand days. It is essential that crowd management training for personnel becomes a priority rather than a reaction to tragedies.

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