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Rahul Bondre, who represented the Chikhli Assembly constituency in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district, announced on Sunday that he would join the BJP.
During the call, Rahul Gandhi urged Bondre not to leave the Congress.
Former Maharashtra Congress MLA Rahul Bondre was set to join the BJP, but a late-night phone call from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appears to have changed his plans.
Bondre, who represented the Chikhli Assembly constituency in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district, announced on Sunday that he would join the BJP. He was scheduled to formally join the party on Tuesday at the BJP’s state headquarters in Mumbai in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP state president Ravindra Chavan.
However, on Monday night, Bondre spoke with Rahul Gandhi over a phone call facilitated by Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal. A video of the conversation, which has since gone viral, shows an emotional Bondre speaking with Gandhi.
During the call, Gandhi urged Bondre not to leave the Congress. When Bondre referred to his recent electoral defeats, Gandhi told him, “You cannot win without losing. The foundation of victory is defeat.”
“Do not panic, and do not buckle under pressure. You are a loyal member of the Congress party. Don’t make a mistake. They are trying to create psychological pressure on you to quit Congress. We stand with you. They want you to flee so they can reduce their competition and expand their influence. Do not walk into the BJP’s trap,” Gandhi is heard telling Bondre in the video.
Reassured by the Congress leadership, Bondre, visibly emotional, pledged his continued allegiance to the party.
“I stayed with the party because of you, Bhaiya. The fact that you personally called a worker like me gives me the strength to fight again. Even if I lose everything, I will stand by your side in this battle,” he said.
At A Glance
Former Maharashtra Congress MLA Rahul Bondre was set to join the BJP, but a late-night phone call from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appears to have changed his plans.
During the call, Rahul Gandhi urged Bondre not to leave the Congress.
When Bondre referred to his recent electoral defeats, Gandhi told him, “You cannot win without losing. The foundation of victory is defeat.”
Bondre represented the Chikhli constituency after winning the 2009 and 2014 Assembly elections. He subsequently lost the seat to BJP’s Shweta Mahale in the 2019 and 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.
In 2019, senior Congress leader Mukul Wasnik had personally travelled to Chikhli amid reports that Bondre was considering leaving the party.
Bondre is also considered to have significant influence in the constituency, with political networks linked to regional cooperative banks and spinning mills.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Former Maharashtra Congress MLA Rahul Bondre reversed his decision to join the BJP after receiving a late-night phone call from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi urged him not to buckle under psychological pressure or walk into the BJP’s trap, reassuring him of the party’s full support.
Ask News18About the Author
Saurabh Verma is a Deputy News Editor at News18.com, specialising in Indian politics and breaking global news. With years of experience tracking election strategies, he decodes domestic issues for mil…Read More
September 22, 2026, 19:17 IST
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