Rahul Bondre drops plan to join BJP after call from Rahul Gandhi, says Yashomati Thakur

Congress was set to face a major setback in Buldhana district, in state party chief Harshvardhan Sapkal's own district. Rahul Bondre, former Congress MLA from Buldhana's Chikhli assembly constituency, was widely reported to be on the verge of joining the BJP. Bondre had even announced his decision to join the BJP on a Facebook Live session. But at the last moment, he reversed his decision and chose to stay with the Congress.

A phone call from Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is being described as playing a key role in this turn of events. It is being said that Rahul Gandhi spoke to Bondre on the phone and convinced him, after which Bondre decided to remain with the Congress.

Reacting to the matter, Congress leader Yashomati Thakur said, "Rahul Gandhi is a leader who cares for party workers. How much pressure Rahul Bondre must have been under is evident from his face."

Thakur further alleged that action or pressure was being exerted by the government on institutions run by Rahul Bondre. "The current government is bent on destroying Rahul Bondre's institutions," she said. This is her political allegation.

It is reported that Rahul Gandhi reminded Bondre of his work for the party and appealed to him to reconsider his decision. He is claimed to have told him, "You have done good work for the party, you are loyal, the party needs you, please reconsider your decision."

According to Yashomati Thakur, Rahul Gandhi's call gave Bondre courage. She said Bondre then made a promise to Rahul Gandhi: "Even if I lose everything, I will still work for the Congress and for you."

Rahul Bondre is a former MLA from the Chikhli assembly constituency. The seat is currently held by the BJP's Shweta Mahale. Following this episode, speculation over Bondre's role in Buldhana's Congress politics has intensified once again.