Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national secretary Pankaja Munde has denied reports of quitting the party and joining Congressin view of the recent additions in the Maharashtra government. Terming the reports as “absolutely false”, Pankaja Munde also clarified that she has never seen Rahul or Sonia Gandhi in person.
Pankaja Munde said, “A few days back a news report came in that I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi twice and I am quitting BJP and joining Congress. Such news reports are absolutely false. I swear that I have never spoken with any leader of any party regarding my entry into their party. I have never seen Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi in person.”
Meanwhile, Devendra Fadnavis has admitted that there have been some uneasiness ever since some rebels from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) joined the Maharashtra government, saying it cannot be accepted in a day. This is in reference to the reports that Pankaja Munde will quit the BJP over the recent developments.
When asked about it, Devendra Fadnavis said, “Pankaja Munde is BJP’s national secretary and a senior leader. She has her personal views… especially after NCP joined us. It is right that our people have had a tussle with NCP and all of them can’t accept it in a day.”
“Party’s senior leaders will talk to Pankaja Munde and I believe she will work with our party,” Devendra Fadnavis said.
Amid alleged disgruntlement among his MLAs, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met his deputy and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis late on Thursday night.
The meeting came days after Eknath Shinde denied that his Shiv Sena MLAs were uncomfortable with the inclusion of Ajit Pawar and 8 NCP legislators in the state cabinet and claimed that he would remain as the chief minister until 2024.
The Maharashtra cabinet now has 29 ministers with the entry of NCP leaders on Sunday. It can accommodate 14 more.
(With agency inputs)
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Updated: 07 Jul 2023, 04:33 PM IST