BJP Picks Tiwari As City Chief In Pre-Poll Strategy Shift To Attract Hindi Voters
Nagpur: In a strategic reshuffle ahead of the upcoming civic elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday appointed former mayor
Dayashankar Tiwari
as its new Nagpur city unit president, replacing Bunty Kukde.
The decision is seen as a bid to consolidate the party's Hindi-speaking voter base and reaffirm its ideological positioning in the city.Tiwari's elevation comes amid growing demands within the party to give leadership representation to the sizeable Hindi-speaking population in Nagpur, traditionally considered a loyal BJP constituency.
A party functionary remarked, "The appointment addresses a long-standing aspiration within the community and reinforces our core ideological commitment."Sources said Tiwari's name was earlier considered for the West Nagpur Assembly constituency, following reported internal resistance to his candidacy from Central Nagpur due to caste and religious calculations. Although the party ultimately fielded former MLA Sudhakar Kohale from West Nagpur, Tiwari remained a strong contender. He got upset, and even his supporters staged a protest for granting him a ticket. However, his new appointment is being viewed as both a reconciliatory gesture and a tactical move to balance competing factions within the city unit.Party insiders noted that the leadership laid down clear criteria for the new city chief — excluding sitting or former MLAs and favouring younger faces. Tiwari, known for his hardline Hindutva stance, fit the profile. "He can clearly articulate the party's ideological vision while managing local dynamics effectively," a senior leader said.During his tenure as mayor, Tiwari took several visible decisions, including the controversial installation of Swami Vivekananda's statue on the banks of Ambazari Lake. The move drew public criticism after the area suffered flooding in September 2023, with the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court censuring the civic body multiple times on the issue.Before Tiwari's selection, several names were under consideration, including state BJP vice-president Sanjay Bhende, senior leader Narendra alias Balya Borkar, and former city chief Pravin Datke. The decision followed intense consultations by observers Hansraj Ahir and MLA Randhir Sawarkar, who met city office-bearers on May 1. The final approval reportedly came from Union minister Nitin Gadkari, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, and state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule.Though Kukde's supporters lobbied for his reappointment by highlighting recent electoral successes — winning the Lok Sabha seat and four out of six assembly segments in Nagpur — party leaders maintained that a leadership refresh was necessary ahead of the municipal polls scheduled within the next four months.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
22 minutes ago
- Hans India
If my voice brought India's issues to forefront, that's my service to nation: Priyanka Chaturvedi
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has strongly defended India's recent global anti-terror outreach mission across Europe, calling it both timely and necessary to expose the global threat posed by Pakistan-backed terrorism. Chaturvedi was part of the high-level All-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad under 'Operation Sindoor Outreach,' which presented India's firm stance against cross-border terrorism and garnered international support. Reflecting on the trip, Chaturvedi said the delegation had a clear mission: 'That was my responsibility. And if my speeches have influenced people and brought the country's issues to the forefront, I consider it my service to the nation.' She added, 'I hope that in near future, the European nations, because my group toured six countries—will understand that the terrorism we have been enduring for decades is now reaching their homes.' The delegation visited France, Italy, Denmark, the UK, Belgium, and Germany. During the tour, Indian MPs met foreign lawmakers, think tanks, and diaspora groups to raise awareness about radicalization and safe havens for terror groups operating from Pakistan. Chaturvedi highlighted the growing threat of radicalisation abroad, saying: 'The way indoctrination and radicalization are taking place, and everyone's wires are connected to Pakistan, whether it's Al-Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammed, or Lashkar-e-Taiba, everyone lives in safe houses there. They are protected.' She emphasised that, 'It was a successful trip where we were able to keep the country's interests safe.' Responding to political criticism that sending delegations abroad was a waste of public money, Chaturvedi hit back: 'Many leaders are saying that sending foreign delegations was a waste of money and time. I hope they will take a debriefing from their own party members who were also part of these delegations, ask them what was discussed, how it was said, and what their role was.' When asked about her passionate speeches and even mimicry of Pakistani political figures like Hina Rabbani Khar or Bilawal Bhutto (referred to as "Minamal Bhutto" in some circles), Chaturvedi firmly rooted her motivation in personal experience. 'After 26/11, the terrorist attack in Mumbai, I was deeply affected and came into politics. I know how many homes are destroyed because of terrorism. How many women struggle to manage households. Terrorism tries to destroy businesses and the country's stability.' The Operation Sindoor Outreach initiative helped India draw sharper international attention to terrorism and its sources like Pakistan, and has provided a unified national narrative on the global stage.
Hans India
22 minutes ago
- Hans India
BJP leaders highlight Modi's 11-year governance
Ongole: A workshop focusing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 11 years of governance, service, welfare of poor, and environmental protection, was conducted at Indira Priyadarshini Law College in Ongole on Saturday. BJP State official spokesperson Sadineni Yamini Sharma served as the chief guest for the event. As part of World Environment Day celebrations, the programme commenced with sapling plantation activities in the law college premises. Speaking at the gathering, Yamini Sharma explained to party members how Prime Minister Modi is advancing numerous development programmes with Antyodaya spirit, guided by the motto 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas' toward achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat. Party district president Seggem Srinivasa Rao addressed the audience about various programmes outlined by the State BJP. He detailed upcoming observances including International Yoga Day on June 21, Balidan Day of party founder-president Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee on June 23, and 50th anniversary of the Emergency declared in 1975 on June 25, which he described as a dark day for India. He urged party members to take these programs to the grassroots level. District in-charge Ravishankar spoke about Prime Minister Modi's governance achievements during his address to the gathering. Several BJP leaders, including former district president PV Sivareddy, State executive committee member Dr Kommi Narasinga Rao, district general secretaries Sivaji Yadav, N Srinivasareddy, M Amarasimham, K Nageswarrao, D Srinivasa Rao, K Vasu, and other party functionaries, participated in the programme.
India.com
26 minutes ago
- India.com
Pakistan Like Emperor That Has No Clothes: BJP MP Baijayant Panda
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha MP Baijayant Panda, who led an all-party parliamentary delegation in four countries, on Thursday cornered Pakistan over the Islamic nation's continous support to terrorism. Panda labelled Pakistan as "an emperor that has no clothes". The delegation led by Panda visited Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria. It included members Nishikant Dubey (BJP), Phangnon Konyak (BJP), Rekha Sharma (BJP), Asaduddin Owaisi (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen), Satnam Singh Sandhu, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Harsh Shringla. "Pakistan is like the emperor that has no clothes. It's pretty shameless, but everybody knows what it is," Panda said in an interview with India Today. The delegations were sent to 33 countries following Operation Sindoor against terror sites located in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The Operation Sindoor was launched on May 6-7 to avenge the killings of 26 civilians by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. Talking about the countries visited by the parliamentary delegation and their bilateral relationship with Pakistan, Panda informed that even though these are Islamic nations, their paths are not the same as that of Pakistan since all four countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria, have taken "strong" action against "jihadism". Contrary to actions taken by these countries, the BJP MP said, Pakistan has gone in the opposite direction, encouraging jihadis and fundamentalist elements. "Keep in mind that over the last couple of decades, you know, these are all Islamic countries, but their path and Pakistan's path have diverged quite a bit. All these four countries have taken very strong actions against jihadism and Salafist elements, and they have rubbed them out from operating on their soil," Panda said. "Pakistan has gone in the opposite direction. It continues to encourage jihadis and fundamentalist elements. This is why there is a divergence in their relationship with Pakistan," he added. Highlighting the financial assistance provided to Pakistan by these countries, Panda argued that they have witnessed the aid being misused. He said that Pakistan has used the aid to finance terrorism instead of working for development. "Some of these countries have helped Pakistan financially in the past years, and they have seen that the aid has been misused. Now, these countries have developed their schools, roads, colleges and hospitals. But Pakistan has taken their money and, instead of using it for the same purpose, has used it to finance terrorism," he said, adding, "These are things that they are very unhappy about, and they did make it very clear to us that they stand with us." Furthermore, Panda said that the four Islamic nations perceive India and Pakistan in entirely different ways, categorising the neighbouring country as a "problem child" who abstains from becoming normal and has "misused the support".
