The remarks, made during a BJP workers’ meeting in Pune, have elicited sharp reactions from the opposition and raised eyebrows across the political landscape.
Bawankule was addressing party workers at a district-level meeting in Pune when he made the comment. Referring to recent crossovers, including former Congress MLA Sangram Thopte from Bhor joining the BJP, he reassured the cadres not to be concerned about new entrants.
“Even if Congress leaders join the BJP, tickets will be allocated to loyal party workers first,” he promised them.
His remarks come amid reports of dissatisfaction among BJP cadres following the induction of Congress leaders. In an attempt to ease tensions, Bawankule highlighted that loyalty to the BJP would be prioritized during candidate selection.
Later, in response to media inquiries, Bawankule defended his comment, stating, “If Congress leaders can’t manage their own party, what can I do?” He further asserted that Congress workers have lost confidence in their leadership.
However, his provocative remarks did not go unnoticed.
Congress state president Harshavardhan Sapkal responded vigorously, accusing the BJP of operating like a “witch devouring Congress leaders.” At an event in Parbhani, Sapkal remarked, “The BJP understands that its true electoral strength lies in poaching Congress’s grassroots leaders and workers, despite having prominent figures like Narendra Modi and Devendra Fadnavis. We condemn this political strategy.”
Bawankule also addressed the need to enhance access to government power structures. He announced that the BJP will now assign Personal Assistants (PAs) to 19 ministers in Maharashtra. These PAs will facilitate connections between BJP workers and ministries, ensuring their work is completed efficiently and making the government more approachable.
“Our workers feel reluctant to enter ministries. Congress workers knew how to leverage power; ours don’t. That has to change,” he stated.
He further encouraged BJP workers not to feel disheartened and to continue working with determination and purpose. “No one should feel helpless. This is your government, your minister, your system. Utilize it effectively,” he urged his party cadre.
This comment has rekindled the discussion surrounding party poaching in Maharashtra politics. While the BJP perceives defections as strategic victories, the Congress views them as indicative of a decline in democratic ethics.
Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut also condemned Bawankule’s statement, asserting, “The old BJP led by Vajpayee, Advani, Pramod Mahajan, and Sushma Swaraj was different. They empowered their own party cadre and promoted them to leadership roles. But this new BJP is recruiting leaders from other parties.”
“If they claim that the Congress party has insulted Veer Savarkar, then how is it acceptable for them to induct Congress leaders into the BJP?” Raut questioned.
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