Former Minister and Senior Congress leader, Padmakar Valvi Joins BJP!
Padmakar Valvi, a senior Congress leader and former minister, made a significant political move by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on March 13, dealing a blow to his former party. The event, attended by BJP’s Maharashtra unit President Chandrashekhar Bawankule and party leader Ashok Chavan, marked Valvi’s official transition.
Speculation about Valvi’s switch to the BJP sparked when he met Bawankule on March 12, coinciding with Congress Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Nandurbar district. Valvi, a former Congress MLA from the Shahada constituency in Nandurbar, holds prominence in North Maharashtra.
Having been elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Shahada Constituency in 2009, Valvi’s political journey faced a setback with his loss in the 2014 election. Despite ongoing rumors, Valvi had consistently denied any plans of joining the BJP until his recent decision.
Valvi’s move aligns with the ongoing discussions between the NDA and INDIA bloc parties regarding the seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Lok Sabha Polls in 2024. With Maharashtra being a crucial state, both alliances are strategizing to secure a substantial number of seats.
In the proposed arrangement among NDA partners, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is expected to contest 13 seats. In comparison, the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will vie for four seats. Maharashtra, with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, holds significant importance in the BJP’s ambitious goal of reaching 370 seats in the Lok Sabha, aiming to bolster the NDA’s tally to 400.
Valvi’s decision echoes the trend of Congress leaders in Maharashtra, like Ashok Chavan and Milind Deora, who have opted to join the BJP or other parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
[Image Source: ANI]
