"Power Shift in Navi Mumbai: BJP Picks Rajesh Patil Over Ganesh Naik’s Camp Before Civic Elections"

 BJP Sidelines Naik Camp, Appoints Dr Rajesh Patil as Navi Mumbai Chief Ahead of Civic Polls

By ASTAMI, NAVI MUMBAI

In a significant political shake-up ahead of the upcoming Navi Mumbai civic elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday appointed Dr. Rajesh Patil as its new Navi Mumbai president — a move seen as a strategic snub to minister Ganesh Naik and his faction within the party.

Patil, a seasoned party loyalist and close associate of Belapur MLA Manda Mhatre, replaces interim chief Ramchandra Gharat and steps into a leadership role once controlled by the powerful Naik family. His appointment marks a decisive shift in the BJP's internal power dynamics in Navi Mumbai, signalling that the party high command is no longer willing to offer a free rein to Ganesh Naik — once the undisputed strongman of the city.

A Blow to the Naik Legacy

The development comes at a time when Naik’s political capital within the BJP continues to dwindle. Despite being inducted as a minister in the Maharashtra government last year — reportedly to counterbalance deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde's influence in Thane district — Naik has found himself repeatedly side-lined in local affairs.

Notably, the BJP denied him a ticket from his bastion, Belapur, after he defected from the NCP in 2019. Instead, the party reposed faith in Manda Mhatre, who retained the seat, while Naik had to contest from Airoli with the help of his son Sandeep, who gave up his own ticket for the switch. Though Ganesh Naik eventually became a minister, it was clear that the BJP leadership had not fully embraced the veteran leader.

That pattern of marginalization continued. In July 2023, after years of being overlooked, Sandeep Naik was appointed Navi Mumbai BJP president. However, the party once again refused to field him from Belapur in the 2024 assembly elections — choosing Mhatre over him. Frustrated, Sandeep revolted and joined the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) along with 25 corporators, leading to his expulsion.

While the BJP later revoked the suspensions of the corporators after Sandeep’s electoral defeat, it made no move to welcome him back. Nor did the party entertain the leadership ambitions of other Naik loyalists, including elder son Sanjeev Naik and nephew Sagar Naik.

Patil: A Consensus Candidate

Dr. Rajesh Patil’s appointment has been welcomed not just by BJP insiders but also by alliance partner Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), which has had its share of tensions with the Naik camp. Patil, considered a low-profile yet experienced leader known for his work with project-affected persons, is seen as a bridge-builder rather than a factional strongman.

“We welcome this appointment as an experienced and loyal person has been appointed to the post,” said Kishore Patkar, the Shiv Sena’s Belapur chief. “All dadagiri (bullying) will end now and we will have better coordination. We will be glad to contest the civic elections in alliance [with the BJP] now.”

Mhatre, who has long championed Patil for the post, hailed the decision as a victory for the party organisation over dynastic politics. “The party has given justice to the organisation and not a family. Patil has been working hard for the party for years and deserves the appointment,” she said while felicitating him.

Dr. Patil, for his part, struck a conciliatory tone. “I am a very small party worker. I am sure my appointment has been decided after taking both the minister and the MLA into confidence,” he said. “It is all about working for the organisation together, forgetting all differences and competitions.”

Looking Ahead: Civic Polls on the Horizon

With civic elections looming, Patil’s elevation is being seen as an attempt by the BJP to project a unified, corruption-free, and grassroots-driven leadership in Navi Mumbai. The move also indicates that the party wants to move away from personality-driven politics and assert tighter central control in urban pockets where factionalism has often undermined its prospects.

As the city gears up for a fierce electoral battle, the question remains: Can Dr. Rajesh Patil unify the fractured local unit and steer the BJP-Sena alliance to victory? One thing is certain — the Naik era in Navi Mumbai BJP politics has entered a new, uncertain chapter.