Politics · India Bureau
Rahul Gandhi appeals to former Maharashtra MLA to reject BJP offer
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi personally telephoned former Maharashtra MLA Rahul Bondre to persuade him against switching to the Bharatiya Janata Party. The appeal came through Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal, who facilitated the conversation.
LSN India ·
In a bid to retain party loyalty, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi directly reached out to former Maharashtra MLA Rahul Bondre, urging him to remain with the Indian National Congress rather than join the BJP. Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal arranged the phone call between the two leaders, underscoring the party's efforts to prevent further defections amid ongoing political realignments in the state.
The move reflects Congress's concerns about losing ground in Maharashtra, where the party has faced persistent challenges in retaining prominent members. Bondre's potential departure would mark another significant loss for the party in the state, where factional disputes and leadership transitions have weakened its organizational structure.
While the outcome of Gandhi's appeal remains unclear, the direct intervention by the Congress vice president indicates the importance the national leadership places on preventing further erosion of the party's strength in Maharashtra. The state has witnessed numerous high-profile defections to the BJP in recent years, with departing leaders citing better prospects and organizational support from the larger party.