While the political atmosphere in the state is heated, the statements made by senior BJP leader and minister Ganesh Bidkar (or the concerned leader) have accelerated political discussions. They have made very confident statements about allegations-counter allegations, municipal elections, Thackeray brothers, Ajit Pawar faction, and BJP's victory.
“Until Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, accusations and counter-accusations used to influence voters. However, that is no longer the case. Accusations and counter-accusations are merely bubbles,” he expressed clearly. He stated that the public's trust in Modi's leadership is so strong that such criticisms have no effect. He also shared an anecdote at this time. “Instead of the lotus symbol, just use Modi's face as the symbol, an elderly lady told me,” he said, commenting on Modi's popularity. He claimed that in the public's mind, Modi is synonymous with the BJP.
While talking about the municipal elections, they expressed firm confidence in the victory of BJP and the grand alliance. “Ganesh Bidkar and our other colleagues will win by a large margin in 2024. There is no other option on 115 seats besides us. Those who want to bet should do so confidently,” they made a challenging statement. Speaking about the Ajit Pawar group, they clarified, “Our party is not broken. Our party believes in democracy. There may be differences, but the party is strong.” However, they also admitted that due to the overconfidence and arrogance of some leaders in the state, the party has somewhat gone on the backfoot. This statement is becoming a special topic of discussion in political circles.
They also indirectly criticized the Thackeray brothers in Mumbai. They claimed that BJP and the grand alliance will win in six municipal corporations including Mumbai and Pune. “In Mumbai, BJP will get 90 seats, Shiv Sena 40 seats, and in Pune, BJP will get as many as 115 to 115 seats,” they predicted. These statements indicate that the political atmosphere is likely to heat up before the upcoming municipal elections, with political battles appearing to be fought directly over numbers rather than accusations and counter-accusations.