Speculation abounds as Pankaja reports sick while Fadnavis embarks on four-day Marathwada tour

Pankaja Munde’s close aides said she doesn't want to be seen with Fadnavis and hence tries to avoid such situations although the duo can be seen together at party meetings.

Four months back when Devendra Fadnavis had visited Marathwada and undertook a tour of Beed, Pankaja Munde went to tour some other districts | PTI/file

Even as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Pravin Darekar are touring flood-affected areas of Marathwada district, Pankaja Munde, the national secretary of the party, has expressed her inability to “take calls or meet in person” for the next few days on account of being unwell.

In a tweet, Pankaja said, “Unwell…tonsilitis and blisters in throat…advised strict rest for 2 to 4 days…can’t take calls or meet in person.”

Unwell..tonsillitis n blisters in my throat adviced strick voice rest for 2 to 4 days … can't take calls or meet in person..

— Pankaja Gopinath Munde (@Pankajamunde) October 1, 2021

Pankaja’s absence has once again given rise to speculation as to whether she is avoiding being seen with Fadnavis, with whom she has not shared a public platform other than party meetings since her defeat in assembly elections in 2019. While both leaders have restrained themselves from attacking each other publicly, insiders say Pankaja holds “Fadnavis camp” responsible for her defeat. The exclusion of her sister, Parliamentarian Preetam Munde, from the recent Union cabinet expansion has given Pankaja another reason to be upset with Fadnavis, they add.

Four months back, when Fadnavis undertook a tour of Beed from where Pankaja hails, she was touring some other districts. While BJP leaders said Munde and Fadnavis have met on some occasions, they have largely not been seen together publicly in the last two years.

When asked about Munde’s illness, BJP’s state spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said, “I have no knowledge whether she had informed the party about her illness. But she has already made it known to the world that she was not well, through her tweet. Anyway, Munde is not an employee of the party wherein she is required to seek permission.”

Fadnavis, the Opposition leader in state assembly, and Darekar, the Opposition leader in state council, will visit Beed on Monday even as Pankaja would remain unavailable until Tuesday.

Pankaja’s close aides said she doesn’t want to be seen with Fadnavis and hence tries to avoid him at public places, though they are seen together at party meetings. “Last time, she had cited an official reason to be away from Beed when Fadnavis had come to visit. This time, she has cited another genuine reason… Anyway, by staying away from Fadnavis, she has indirectly expressed her resentment with the way she and her family has been treated… Neither has she forgotten about her defeat nor has her anger subsided over non-inclusion of her sister in the Union cabinet,” said a close aide.

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Meanwhile, Fadnavis said he was touring Marathwada to highlight the plight of farmers affected by the recent rain and floods. “Government aid is either not reaching them or is taking its own time to arrive…We want to highlight all that is going wrong in rain-hit Marathwada districts,” he said.

After meeting farmers in Parbhani, Fadnavis said, “The state government has made no effort to reach out to the farmers who have suffered 100 per cent crop loss. Even the aid that was promised last time has not reached them. The (state) government makes promises but doesn’t implement them. This time, since the loss is cent per cent, there is no need to hold panchnamas. The financial assistance should be announced without any panchnamas.”

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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