BJP rebel Gokul Gite stops campaign for MLC poll after after eight days of high political drama

Nashik: BJP rebel and independent candidate Gokul Gite on Thursday announced that he was stepping back from the Nashik local authorities constituency election, effectively ending his campaign after eight days of intense political developments surrounding the contest.As the deadline for nomination withdrawal has already lapsed, Gite’s name will remain on the ballot. “After speaking with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and meeting deputy CM Eknath Shinde, I decided to end my campaign in this election,” Gite said, while addressing the media alongside senior ministers, water resources minister Girish Mahajan, industries minister Uday Samant and education minister Dada Bhuse.He, however, stopped short of explicitly declaring support for official Mahayuti nominee Narendra Darade of Shiv Sena.Gite’s rebellion began after the seat was allotted to the Shiv Sena as part of the alliance arrangement, despite expectations that BJP would back his candidacy. The situation further escalated due to alleged derogatory remarks made about him by Darade’s brother, MLC Kishor Darade, and his son, Kunal.Throughout his campaign, Gite maintained that there was significant dissatisfaction among electors with Darade’s previous tenure, which had prompted him to enter the fray.Despite gaining early traction, Gite said he chose to withdraw from active campaigning to shield his family and political relationships from ongoing controversies. He also rejected speculation about any behind-the-scenes understanding with BJP member and minister Mahajan. “Mahajan is a guiding force for my family. I stepped aside so that he would not be unnecessarily targeted,” Gite said.Mahajan said, “There is no formal process for withdrawal at this stage. But with Gite stopping his campaign, the Mahayuti candidate is set to win comfortably.”Responding to the developments, minister Samant said the party leadership had assured Gite of a strong political future. “The leadership has also committed to improving both the performance of MLC Darade and the overall public perception in the constituency,” he added.