Ex-MLA Medha Kulkarni Upset Over Chandni Chowk Flyover Event Snub, Targets Party Colleague

The inauguration of the Chandani Chowk flyover has stirred discontent within the BJP ranks, as former MLA Medha Kulkarni, a prominent figure in the party, has voiced her displeasure at being sidelined from the forthcoming ceremony scheduled for Saturday, i.e. today, on August 12 at the hands of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, chief minister Eknath Shinde, deputy chief ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis.

Kulkarni, who previously represented the Kothrud assembly segment, has indirectly pointed fingers at Chandrakant Patil, the present MLA of the Kothrud constituency and district guardian minister, for allegedly purposefully omitting her name from the inauguration announcements. Labelling this as an “injustice towards loyalists,” she has tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule in a Facebook post.

Nitin Gadkari, the Union Road Transport Minister, is set to inaugurate the flyover. Kulkarni, who holds the position of National Vice-President of the BJP’s Women’s Morcha, has expressed her discontent over her absence from the party’s distributed pamphlets.

“I have refrained from publicly voicing dissent over unfairness and internal politics, even in instances where decisions were taken without my knowledge. Nevertheless, my emotions have overwhelmed me, and I wish to share my sentiments with you,” Kulkarni conveyed through her social media posts.

While she refrained from explicitly naming Chandrakant Patil, her remarks such as “Kothrud’s contemporary leader played no role in the Chandani Chowk project” seem to be directed towards him.

“From the very outset, I have diligently followed up on this project. It was publicly acknowledged by Gadkari himself in a speech years ago that he had taken up this matter based on the proposal I presented. However, now it appears this individual is attempting to claim all credit and erase the contributions of individuals like me,” she remarked.

Kulkarni alleges that the exclusion is not limited to the Chandani Chowk inauguration; she encountered a similar situation during the visits of PM Modi and Amit Shah. “Certain individuals were granted passes for ‘all venues,’ disregarding protocol. Despite my national role, I was denied a pass despite requesting one,” she appended.

“If I am not even involved in the selection of the Kothrud Mandal president, it signifies that local party members do not desire my presence. I have endured this for numerous years and have brought it to the attention of senior party members. Despite contributing extensively and working in tandem with PM Modi, and addressing challenges for the nation, certain individuals are preoccupied with self-centered power dynamics and political manipulation,” stated former BJP MLA Medha Kulkarni.

“For dedicated workers such as myself, it is clear that my contributions hold little value. Treating me in this manner comes naturally to them. I lack political clout and financial influence. I come from a modest background, a devoted worker committed to principles. My entry into politics was guided by ideology, serving the people from my heart. My present achievements are a product of sincere endeavors.”

In the 2014 assembly elections, Medha Kulkarni triumphed with 64,000 votes from the Kothrud constituency. However, the 2019 elections witnessed a decision within the BJP to field Chandrakant Patil, an MLA in the legislative council at the time, from the seat – a position deemed highly secure from the BJP’s perspective. Even then, she openly expressed her dissatisfaction. There were deliberations about granting her a candidacy in the legislative council elections, which ultimately did not materialize.