‘Working against party line’: BJP suspends 26 functionaries, rebel candidates for 6 years ahead of BMC polls

MUMBAI: The BJP on Thursday suspended 26 office bearers, including former corporators, and those who are fighting the BMC polls as rebel candidates for 6 years.

Mumbai BJP chief, MLA Ameet Satam, in his suspension order, said they have been suspended for not cooperating with Mahayuti candidates in the BMC elections 2026 despite repeated requests from the party. Among those suspended are Divya Dhole from Ward 60, Versova; Nehal Amar Shah from Ward 177, Matunga; Janhvi Rane from Ward 205, Abhyudaya Nagar; and Asawari Patil from Ward 2, Borivli; among others. Several other office bearers have been suspended for allegedly working against the party.

A senior BJP functionary said Nehal Shah, for instance, not only filed her nomination against the official BJP candidate, but also tried to defame the candidate and damage the prospects of the party.

"The party gave tickets to the candidates based on surveys and internal assessment. Winnability was the main criteria. There was high anti-incumbency and complaints about lack of citizen connect. Local officer bearers had also complained. So, the party made a decision to drop her and give the ticket to Kalpesha Jesal Kothari, who is a good local face. This was the case with many of the candidates who were dropped. Many of them did not rebel or withdrew their nomination, but some went ahead despite the party's request," the functionary said.

Senior BJP functionaries, though, said the party took too much time to suspend the rebels. "Some of those suspended are rebel candidates in the BMC polls. Most others are working against the party ideology and party line. Despite several requests and instructions, they continued anti-Mahayuti activities. So they have been suspended as part of disciplinary action," Satam said.

Last week, the BJP had managed to get some of its rebels to pull out. Among those were BJP party worker Sunita Yadav who filed her nomination form as an independent from Ward 1 against BJP's official candidate Rekha Yadav. In Ward 221, former BJP corporator Janak Sanghavi also withdrew his nomination, leaving Aakash Purohit as the BJP's official candidate.