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“Bring people like Congress’s Thopte…Even if they join, tickets will be given to loyal BJP workers first…If Congress can’t manage its own party, what can I do?” said Bawankule
Chandrashekhar Bawankule later defended his remark. (PTI File)
Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule stirred controversy by openly urging party workers to “break the Congress party and empty it”. The audio clip of his speech has gone viral on social media.
The comment, made during a BJP workers’ district-level meeting in Pune, has triggered sharp reactions from the opposition and raised eyebrows across the political spectrum.
Referring to recent crossovers, including the entry of former Congress MLA Sangram Thopte from Bhor into the BJP, he told the cadre not to worry about new entrants. “Bring people like Sangram Thopte into the party. Break the Congress, 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 and I are with you. Even if Congress leaders join the BJP, tickets will be given to loyal party workers first,” he assured them.
His comments come amid reports of discontent among BJP cadres after Congress leaders were inducted into the BJP. Attempting to calm the unrest, Bawankule emphasised that loyalty to the BJP will be valued during candidate selection.
Later, speaking to the media, Bawankule defended his remark, saying, “If Congress leaders can’t manage their own party, what can I do?” He further claimed that Congress workers no longer have confidence in their leadership.
His provocative remarks, however, didn’t go unnoticed.
CONGRESS, SENA UBT REACT
Congress state president Harshavardhan Sapkal responded strongly, accusing the BJP of functioning like a “witch devouring Congress leaders”. At an event in Parbhani, Sapkal said, “The BJP knows its real electoral strength comes from poaching Congress’s grassroots leaders and workers, despite having tall names like Narendra Modi and Devendra Fadnavis. We condemn this political strategy.”
Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut also criticised Bawankule’s statement, saying, “The old BJP led by Vajpayee, Advani, Pramod Mahajan, and Sushma Swaraj was different. They gave strength to their own party cadre and pushed them to leadership roles. But this new BJP is taking leaders from other parties. If they allege that the Congress party has insulted Veer Savarkar, then how does it become acceptable for them to induct Congress leaders into the BJP?”
PAs FOR 19 MINISTERS
Bawankule also spoke about improving access to government power structures. He announced that the BJP will now assign Personal Assistants (PAs) to 19 ministers in Maharashtra. These PAs will help BJP workers connect with ministries, get their work done efficiently, and make the government feel more accessible.
“Our workers feel hesitant about entering ministries. Congress workers knew how to use power; ours don’t. That must change,” he said.
He further urged BJP workers not to feel discouraged and to continue working with strength and conviction. “No one should feel helpless. This is your government, your minister, your system. Use it well,” he told his party cadre.
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