In a significant blow to the BJP, senior leader Gopaldas Agrawal announced his departure from the party on Friday and officially joined the Congress. The move, which occurred in the presence of Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole and AICC leader in charge of Maharashtra Ramesh Chennithala, marks a notable shift in the political landscape of the region.
Agrawal, who had joined the BJP ahead of the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, had contested as the party’s candidate but lost to independent candidate Vinod Agrawal. Disappointed with his defeat, Gopaldas Agrawal had expressed frustration with local BJP leaders in Gondia, accusing them of failing to support his candidacy effectively.
Previously, Agrawal had been a Congress member and had contested successfully from the party in the 2004, 2009, and 2014 elections. His return to the Congress is seen as a strategic move to re-align with his former party and its political ideology.
At the event, Ramesh Chennithala emphasized the ideological divide between the BJP and Congress, stating, “Through the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi has worked to unite the nation and spread the message of ‘Don’t be afraid.’ Now, it’s time to respond to those forces who are trying to divide the country.”
Nana Patole, Maharashtra Congress President, criticized the BJP government’s handling of reservations and public institutions. He highlighted Rahul Gandhi’s stance on removing the 50% cap on reservations to benefit all sections of society. Patole accused the BJP of selling off public institutions, destroying jobs, and weakening constitutional bodies, labeling their accusations against Rahul Gandhi as a case of “the pot calling the kettle black.”
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan weighed in on the political dynamics in Vidarbha, traditionally a Congress stronghold. He expressed confidence in the MVA (Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi) alliance’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections and predicted even greater success in the upcoming assembly elections. Chavan asserted that the ruling Mahayuti coalition would struggle to secure even 100 seats, emphasizing the growing discontent with the current government.
This political shift and the statements from key Congress leaders signal a renewed focus on ideological battles and electoral strategies as Maharashtra approaches its next round of elections.