Bawankule urges BJP workers to induct Congress leaders, 'empty' the party

Pune: Maharashtra BJP chief and state minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has purportedly urged party workers to empty the Congress by inducting its leaders, inviting the ire of the grand old party.

The Congress has said the party belongs to the people, and they are associated with it "ideologically".

Bawankule made the purported remark while addressing local workers during a party event in Pune on Sunday, and he elaborated on Monday that the induction of Congress leaders into the BJP has been going on regularly.

In an audio clip of his speech on Sunday that surfaced on social media, the BJP leader said, "Bring people like Sangram Thopte into the party. Empty the Congress. Don't worry about what will happen if Congress leaders join the BJP. The more you empty the Congress, the more you will benefit politically. Devendra Fadnavis, Murlidhar Mohol (Pune Lok Sabha MP) and I are with you. When the BJP gives tickets, it gives priority to its workers."

Congress loyalist and former MLA from Bhor constituency Thopte recently joined the saffron party in Mumbai.

Bawankule later told reporters that Congress leaders don't have the capacity to increase the party's base.

"There is nothing left in the Congress. Nobody is heading to Sharad Pawar's party, and everybody has forgotten Uddhav Thackeray. If they can't handle their party, what should we do? If the people from their party are leaving, what should I do," he said.

Elaborating on his remarks about "emptying the Congress," the BJP leader on Monday said that Congress loyalists Ravindra Dhangekar and Sangram Thopte recently joined the Shiv Sena and BJP, respectively. He said the induction of Congress leaders into the BJP has been going on regularly.

"As the central leadership of Congress lacks a vision for development, grassroots workers are disillusioned. Even the state leadership has no concrete plan to energise its cadre. Which is why Congress workers want to join the mainstream of development," Bawankule said.

"I meant that we need to bring in good Congress workers and leaders who prioritise development," he said.

Reacting to Bawankule's statement on Sunday, Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad said that the party belongs to the people, and they are associated with it ideologically.

She said many have targeted the Congress in the past, but the party belongs to the people, and they are associated with it for its ideology. Gaikwad said instead of passing such remarks about other parties, leaders should take care of their fold.