31-07-2025
BJP Kicks Off Vidarbha-Level Poll Preparations
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Wardha: The BJP launched preparations for the upcoming local body polls in Vidarbha with a strategy meeting in Wardha on Monday. District-level representatives were asked to hit the ground running, as elections for municipal corporations and zilla parishads are expected to be held back-to-back.
The meeting, attended by chief minister
Devendra Fadnavis
, revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, minister of state Pankaj Bhoyar, and other senior leaders, focused on organisational unity and the need to begin groundwork early.
Fadnavis told party workers that the BJP must ensure the inclusion of first-time voters, those who turned 18 after the 2024 assembly polls, in the electoral rolls. He also urged party cadres to iron out differences and work in unity to secure the party's victory in the upcoming elections.
"These polls will happen almost one after the other. We don't yet know which one will come first, but going by the 2017 format, it seems the municipal corporation elections will precede zilla parishads. Processes like delimitation are underway. Minor differences must be set aside. BJP is like a family. People want to vote for us, so let us prepare for it together," he said, noting that several parties declined due to internal conflicts.
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Bawankule asked party members to start working at the booth level. "We need to get 10 to 20 more votes from each booth. During Lok Sabha 2024, we lost some crucial seats like Amravati by an average of 10 votes per booth," said Bawankule, adding that the saffron party must aim to secure 51% of votes in every seat.
Setting the tone for the campaign, Fadnavis highlighted development initiatives undertaken by the government.
He said the long-pending river linking project would be a game-changer for Vidarbha. "When I used to speak about this earlier, people would say it is only on paper. But planning has advanced significantly. I am hopeful that by year-end, tenders will be floated. This project will solve Vidarbha's drought problems," he said.
Highlighting rural infrastructure projects, Fadnavis said the government will build pandhan roads across the state in the next five years.
"The biggest demand from rural areas is for these roads. A committee under minister Bawankule has been set up to take the matter forward," he added.
On farmers' needs, the CM stated that uninterrupted daytime power supply would be ensured through the Krishi Saur Yojna. The scheme is targeted for completion by December 2026. "Earlier, about 40,000 electric pumps were installed. After Bawankule took charge, that number rose to one lakh, and now we are fitting up to three lakh solar pumps," he said.
Fadnavis also defended the Jan Suraksha Bill. "Urban Naxal activities increased because they realised jungles were no longer safe due to development. The new law targets only those who oppose the Constitution framed by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. It does not infringe on anyone's freedom," he said.
On the language row, Fadnavis accused the opposition of spreading a "fake narrative." "Marathi is mandatory in Maharashtra. The issue was only about which other Indian language would be the third option. Still, the opposition tried to create division," he said.
