Denied ticket, Palghar sitting MP Rajendra Gavit returns to BJP from Shinde Sena
In 2019, Rajendra Gavit joined the BJP's alliance partner, Shiv Sena, to contest from Palghar. In 2022, Gavit switched sides from the Uddhav Thackeray Shiv Sena to the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction.
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Sitting Palghar MP Rajendra Gavit with Maharashtra Cm Devendra Fadnavis (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)Denied a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha election from Maharashtra’s Palghar seat, Shiv Sena leader and sitting MP Dr Rajendra Gavit on Tuesday returned to the BJP, which called the development a homecoming for Gavit.
In 2018, he switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party just before the bypoll for the Palghar Lok Sabha seat and won the seat. In 2019, he strategically joined the BJP’s alliance partner, Shiv Sena, to contest from Palghar again and won. Following the split in the Shiv Sena in 2022, Gavit switched sides from Uddhav Thackeray’s party to the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde faction.
Addressing the media, Gavit, who served as the tribal development minister in the Congress-NCP alliance government, said, “I have decided to return to the BJP. I want to work for the BJP in the state.”
Welcoming Gavit to the BJP in the presence of Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule in Mumbai, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “In 2019, the Palghar Lok Sabha seat was sought by then undivided Shiv Sena. At that time, they also requested that the BJP’s candidate be given along with the seat. Accordingly, the BJP conceded the Palghar seat to then undivided Shiv Sena and gave its candidate Rajendra Gavit.”
Fadnavis added, “Gavit has good network and administrative experience in the state. His services can be utilised in state-level politics.”
After being denied a ticket to contest from Palghar, Gavit was upset. To assuage his anger, the BJP promised him better prospects in Assembly polls and asked him to return to the party.
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and the BJP were caught in a power tussle over the Palghar seat. After lengthy negotiations, the BJP fielded Hemant Savra, the son of former BJP minister Vishnu Savra, as its candidate for the 2024 polls.
Palghar is among the 13 seats in Maharashtra that go to polls in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 on May 20.
Vijay Wadettiwar speaking Pakistan’s language: Fadnavis
Earlier, speaking against Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar’s controversial remark regarding senior IPS officer Hemant Karkare’s killing, Fadnavis questioned Uddhav Thackeray’s silence on the issue.
“His party is in alliance with Congress, whose leader is speaking Pakistan’s language,” he said.
Karkare was killed while fighting terrorists during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in 2008.
Wadettiwar had said, “Hemant Karkare was not killed by bullets of terrorists like Ajmal Kasab but by a policeman close to RSS….Ujjwal Nikam, who appeared as special public prosecutor, is a traitor who suppressed this fact and the BJP has given an election ticket to a traitor like him.”
Fadnavis said, “I think there should be a probe to ascertain whom Wadettiwar met. Does he have, say, Pakistan connect as he speaks their language.”
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