Politics · India Bureau
Congress alleges ex-MLA faced police pressure after rejecting BJP overture
The Indian National Congress has accused authorities of targeting former MLA Rahul Bondre with police notices following his refusal to defect to the BJP. The party claims intervention by Rahul Gandhi played a role in Bondre's decision to remain with Congress.
LSN India ·
The Congress party on Wednesday alleged that former MLA Rahul Bondre has been subjected to police harassment after declining an offer to join the Bharatiya Janata Party. According to the opposition party, Bondre received multiple police notices pertaining to his educational institution located in Chikhli, which they characterize as a retaliatory action.
Party representatives claimed that Bondre's steadfast refusal to switch allegiances came after consultation with Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The party contends that the subsequent targeting of Bondre through regulatory scrutiny represents an attempt to coerce defection through administrative pressure, a tactic the Congress has increasingly flagged in recent months.
The allegations underscore ongoing tensions between the Congress and BJP over political poaching and the use of state machinery. This incident adds to a pattern of similar complaints filed by opposition parties, which have accused the ruling BJP of employing investigative agencies and bureaucratic mechanisms to pressure legislators into changing party affiliation.
The Congress has not provided specific details regarding the nature of the police notices issued against Bondre's educational institution, nor has it released documentary evidence to support its claims. Attempts to seek response from law enforcement and BJP representatives were ongoing at the time of reporting.