Bhagwangad Dusshera rally: Pankaja, Dhananjay join hands, tell OBCs to fight polarisation among communities

The estranged Munde cousins were sharing stage after 12 years. Pankaja Munde, who lost the Lok Sabha polls from her home turf Beed — the epicentre of Maratha protests led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil, was addressing her annual Dussehra rally at Sawargaon Ghat, the birthplace of Sant Bhagwanbaba, a saint of her Vanjari community.

Expressing concern over growing polarisation, Pankaja said, “Where is the state heading. Today, if there is a car accident, the first question is about the caste of the driver… When a girl child is abused, they ask the caste.”

Munde said she inherited the legacy of her father and late BJP stalwart Gopinath Munde and thanked people for giving her respect despite her electoral setback. “He had earned the goodwill of every caste and community. He had never shown discrimination against anybody on caste/ communities or religion,” she said.

“To reciprocate for the respect I received, I will tour the state. The poor are waiting for good days by keeping their faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Now, we must play our cards,” she said.

NCP leader and State Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde said Gopinath Munde and Pankaja Munde struggled for the people, not for themselves. “Today, people from all communities are here. The crowd here today shows that we are all united,” he said.

Elections to the 288-member state assembly will likely be held in November. BJP is a partner in the ruling Mahayuti coalition, also comprising Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Shiv Sena headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Former minister Pankaja said, “I’m not desperate for a post. Five persons lost their lives (by suicide) before I became an MLC. Even though I don’t hold any post, I will not abandon those who have supported me. I am not someone who is afraid of anybody.”

The Bhagwangad Dusshera rally was started in 1993 by late BJP leader and former Union minister Gopinath Munde.

After his demise in 2014, his eldest daughter Pankaja kept the tradition alive.

Pankaja’s relations with her cousin Dhananjay Munde had strained in 2009 after he was upset when Gopinath Munde fielded Pankaja from Parli.

At Saturday’s gathering, Dhananjay said, “It was a long 12-year wait… I have always held my sister Pankaja is highest esteem.”

Neither Pankaja nor Dhananjay named Jarange Patil, who for the first time held a rally at Narayangad in district Beed. Dhananjay said, “You can make lakh of attempts to defeat us. We will rise with greater determination and emerge stronger.”

OBC activist Laxman Hake who had resorted to hunger strike to counter Jarange Patil’s demand for Maratha reservation also participated in the rally along with Rastriya Samaj Paksha chief Mahadev Jankar.

Pankaja also introduced her young son Ayrayan to the gathering, seen as an indication of launching him in politics.

The BJP state leadership, however, denied it.