Pune : Ex Kothrud MLA Medha Kulkarni Named As BJP’s Rajya Sabha Candidate

In a significant political development on February 14, 2024, Medha Kulkarni, the Vice President of the BJP Women’s Wing in Pune, was nominated to represent Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha. This nomination marks the nearing end of the tenures of two current Rajya Sabha members from Pune, namely Vandana Chavan from the NCP and Prakash Javadekar from the BJP.

Interestingly, Kulkarni’s name did not feature among the initial list of candidates announced by the BJP. However, her candidacy gained momentum as she began the process of obtaining a no-dues certificate from various government departments, a prerequisite before filing a nomination for an election.

Prior to this nomination, Kulkarni faced a setback when she was denied a ticket to contest from Pune’s Kothrud Assembly Constituency. She relinquished her assembly seat to accommodate senior party leader Chandrakant Patil in 2019. Kulkarni’s political journey began in 2014 when she was elected from Kothrud, a stronghold for the BJP in Pune. Subsequently, she served as a corporator in Pune representing the BJP. Her potential candidacy for the mayoral position was evident after the BJP assumed power in the Pune civic body.

However, her exclusion from the party ticket in 2019 led to protests as she was not consulted about the decision to make way for Chandrakant Patil. Despite this setback, the BJP appointed her as the National Vice President of the Women’s Wing, where her primary focus has been on strengthening the party’s position.

Meanwhile, another contender has emerged for the Pune Rajya Sabha seat in the form of Harshwardhan Patil. Having joined the BJP in 2019, Patil previously represented Indapur in the Assembly as a legislator for the Congress. He also held ministerial positions in governments led by the Congress-NCP alliance and the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition. Patil’s entry into the fray adds a new dimension to the political landscape in Pune, setting the stage for an intriguing battle for representation in the upper house of parliament.

Medha Kulkarni’s Selection for Rajya Sabha: Key Factors Behind BJP’s Decision :

1. Garnering Support from RSS: Medha Kulkarni’s alignment with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leadership, coupled with her adherence to their ideology, played a pivotal role in her nomination.
2. Community Conciliation: Addressing discontent among the Brahmin community, whose support is crucial, particularly in Pune, after previous electoral setbacks and ensuring their backing for Kulkarni’s candidacy.
3. Averting Electoral Repercussions: Learning from past electoral defeats, particularly the Kasba bypoll, and strategizing to strengthen BJP’s position ahead of forthcoming elections by nominating a candidate with potential mass appeal
4. Mitigating Intraparty Discord: Managing internal conflicts within the Pune BJP, specifically regarding Kulkarni’s perceived marginalization, and reasserting party unity by acknowledging her contributions and concerns.
5. Acknowledging Party Loyalty: Recognizing and rewarding Medha Kulkarni’s unwavering commitment to the party amidst evolving political dynamics, signaling BJP’s emphasis on loyalty and dedication among its members.