Congress MLC Pradnya Satav, wife of Rahul Gandhi’s close confidant and former Youth Congress president late Rajeev Satav, joins BJP

“I am here to become a part of the process of development on the insistence of my workers. I am not big enough to comment on Congress,” she said, after joining the party.

Rajeev Satav was considered one of the closest confidantes of Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Elevated in the party organisation from state level, Satav was made national president of the Youth Congress and later as the in-charge of Gujarat Congress, where he delivered one of the party’s best performances in state Assembly polls in 2017. He died during Covid-19.

After his death, Pradnya Satav was made an MLC on the instructions of the Congress high command in 2021 on a vacant seat. Three years later, the high command ensured that she was given another opportunity by giving her a full term of six years. The party had sidelined its lone Muslim face, Wajahat Mirza, to ensure a safe passage for Pradnya.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that Pradnya Satav’s BJP entry will help the party gain strength in Hingoli district.

The state Congress leadership was aware of her moves from Wednesday and had tried to connect with her. “We tried to speak to her. But she decided not to take any call or meet anyone,” said Satej Patil, Congress group leader in the Legislative Council.