Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
| Photo Credit: PTI

After an audio clip of Maharashtra BJP chief and State Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule reportedly urging party workers to “empty the Congress” and induct their leaders went viral, Mr. Bawankule on Monday (May 5, 2025) clarified, that his statement was distorted, however, BJP’s doors were open for Congress Party workers who wish for development of the State.

Mr. Bawankule said, “The doors of BJP are open to Congress booth level workers and other party functionaries who want to be part of the development led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as every party needs good ground-level workers.”

The Minister rhetorically stated, “When did I ask to finish the Congress? Any party worker can join any party, be it Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar’s NCP, or BJP.”

On Sunday (May 4), an audio clip of his speech went viral, saying, “Bring people like Sangram Thopte into the party. Empty the Congress.” He made these remarks while addressing local workers in a meeting held in Pune.

In the purported audio clip, assurance was also given to the party workers, saying, “Do not worry about the tickets. The first priority will be given to the BJP workers. Congress leaders joining the BJP will only benefit you politically.”

Also read | Congress wanted to field Sangram Thopte as Speaker, but Fadnavis played politics: Harshwardhan Sapkal

A few weeks ago, a Congressman from Bhor, Sangram Thopte joined the BJP in Mumbai and Congressman Ravindra Dhangekar from Pune joined Shiv Sena.

“Congress is weak and unable to keep its party together. No one wants to join Sharad Pawar’s NCP, and people have already left Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray,” Mr. Bawankule added.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad advised Mr. Bawankule to take care of his own party instead of making comments on the party workers of Congress. She said, “Congress is the people’s party and they are associated with it ideologically.”

‘Best possible deal’

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday, assured protesting farmers of the ‘best possible deal’ in the proposed airport project, asserting that this policy decision will not be “reversed”. He asked farmers to reconsider their opposition to the Purandar International Airport project after holding a meeting with representatives in Pune.

Two days ago, a protest was triggered in the Kumbharvalan village in the Purandar region of the Pune district in Maharashtra after the drone survey was conducted for the proposed Purandar International Airport project, resulting in stone pelting on police. The police used tear gas canisters and lathicharge to control the crowd. Pune police booked over 150 villagers.

He asked protestors to submit their demands within a week.