MVA slams BJP over induction of ex-Sena (UBT) leader Badgujar rumoured to have ties with Dawood aide

Mumbai: Nashik-based politician Sudhakar Badgujar, who once came under the scanner of police and investigation agencies for his alleged links with notorious criminal and Dawood Ibrahim gang member and sharp-shooter Salim Kutta joined the BJP on Tuesday inviting severe criticism of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.

A fortnight ago, Badgujar was expelled by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) for anti-party activities.

Badgujar was once close to Thackeray’s Man Friday and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut.

A local businessman, he was the Nashik unit chief of Shiv Sena (UBT).

Salim Mira Shaikh alias Salim Kutta, is a convict and serving life sentence in the Nashik central prison in connection with the 12 March, 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

In December 2013, the MahaYuti-NDA government had set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after a purported video of Badgujar partying with Salim Kutta in a farmhouse went viral. Apparently, Salim Kutta was on parole at that point of time. The SIT ordered after BJP MLAs Nitesh Rane and Ashish Shelar and Shiv Sena MLA Dadaji Bhuse - who are now ministers - raised the issue.

After Badgujar was expelled by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and reports of his possible entry into BJP surfaced after he met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Nashik West MLA of BJP Seema Hiray, described him as “anti-national” and expressed reservations.

On Tuesday, Badgujar made a formal entry into the saffron party in presence of state BJP President and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, state BJP Working President Ravindra Chavan and state Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan, who calls the shot for the party in North Maharashtra.

Former minister Babanrao Gholap too joined the BJP.

Considered a good organiser, Badgujar’s skills would come handy for the BJP in the forthcoming municipal polls in Nashik.

“We have to work together…we have a big responsibility to take the new team along and come to power in Nashik…all differences have to be removed,” said Bawankule, adding that the issue before all of us is development and we are committed to it.

Bawankule asked Mahajan to organise a grand meeting in Nashik, which would be addressed by Fadnavis.

Meanwhile, Raut, in a post on X included a video of an old statement of Rane making allegations against Badgujar, and wrote: “The BJP is full of shameless people…patriotism, Hindutva, etc are all pretence.”

When Rane was asked about it, Rane said: “Badgujar has adopted the path of Hindutva.”

Clarifying the issue, Bawankule said: “The final decision on any such issue rests with the court.”

The Congress wanted to know if it would induct the Pakistan-based underworld don.

“The BJP claims to be the world's largest political party, but this party that boasts of being powerful is now making just about anyone a member. So far, those whom the BJP had previously accused of corruption have not only been inducted into the party with honour but have even been given ministerial posts. Now, the BJP seems to have abandoned all standards. The party has welcomed a person into its fold who was earlier alleged to have links with mafia don Dawood Ibrahim. Will the BJP now go so far as to admit Dawood himself?” asked Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshavardhan Sapkal.

“It’s a party’s internal matter whom they choose to induct, but while preaching about Hindutva, the BJP seems to have completely lost sight of what it’s doing,” Sapkal pointed out.

He further added that BJP MLA Nitesh Rane had earlier made a serious allegation in the legislature that Sudhakar Badgujar from Nashik had hosted a party for Dawood’s henchman Salim Kutta, and had even shown photos of him dancing at the party in the Assembly, demanding action.

“But now, the same person has been welcomed simply because he has accepted Hindutva. “Does this mean that if Dawood were to accept Hindutva, he too would be welcomed?” asked Sapkal.