Nagpur: The BJP’s city unit will be going in for a change of guard as the party high command has been contemplating on replacing the city party president Sudhakar Kohle to strenghten the organisation and bring it at par with the local units of Congress and Shiv Sena. Insiders revealed that the current Nagpur BJP President Kohle, also an MLA from South Nagpur will soon be replaced with former MLA and senior BJP leader Mohan Mate.
BJP’s local circles are reportedly echoing its voice of dissent over the functioning of Kohle, which led the party to think over the rejig. Kohle is understood to have failed in bringing the organisation to the desired level and also lagging behind making populist moves to attract party workers. Believed as close to senior BJP leader and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Kohle reportedly got in tiff with Guardian Minister in front of Chief Minister, over the issue to awarding the government contracts to the relatives.
On the other hand, Mate has been into political exile ever since he completed his tenure as legislator. Following the series of allegations and counter attacks by the anti-Gadkari faction, Mate gradually lost popularity and eventually went on backfoot. However, meanwhile, Mate remained active in the social circles and cut across party lines to share the joys and sorrows among the leaders. Recently, all his supporters and various party leaders gave Mate a warm felicitation when he turned 50, which not only grabbed the attention of BJP high command but consolidated his position as the strong contender for the post as well.
The decision to bring Mate into the mainstream of local BJP unit is believed to have taken as the preparation to the Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections next year. Mate may be given the post of Nagpur city BJP chief by April once both Gadkari and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis arrive at the unanimous decision.
Sources revealed Kohle, on the other hand, will be considered for some senior position in the next state cabinet as he would be asked to step down from the current post. He has been reportedly asked by senior party cadres to remain active in Kalmeshwar-Saoner assembly constituency where the conflict of interest is likely to be witnessed between Kohle and serving MLA Sunil Kedar, both close to Gadkari.
