Congress MLC Pradnya Satav abandons party just before local polls to join BJP

Congress Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Pradnya Satav resigned from the Upper House of the Maharashtra legislature on Thursday and joined the BJP. 

“On the insistence of the workers, to fulfil Raju Satav’s incomplete dream of development, and to contribute to development led by Devendra Fadnavis, I have joined the BJP family,” said Ms. Satav, spouse of late Rajiv Satav, a close confidant of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

Ms. Satav joined the BJP in the presence of Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Maharashtra BJP President Ravindra Chavan. Her quitting the Congress has created a storm, with the party accusing the BJP of breaking parties with money and other temptations. 

Money power

Congress leader Nana Patole stated that the Prime Minister spoke about a Congress-free India, and now they are slowly inducting Congress people into their party. “She might have come under the influence of the BJP. I am not sure under what temptation she joined the BJP. The BJP has been all about money from power, and power from money,” he added.

Ms. Satav’s quitting the Congress ahead of local elections on January 15 is seen as another major setback for the party after former MLA from Solapur district Dilip Mane joined the BJP.

Former Congressman and BJP leader Ashok Chavan called the switch “insecurity over the future”, saying many dedicated senior party workers are leaving as they see that the Congress has been left with no leadership. He also denied any role in Ms Satav’s switch. 

Ms. Satav was elected as MLC in 2021 for the first time, and re-nominated in July 2024 to serve till 2030.

NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule also highlighted her relationship with Ms. Satav and called the decision “shocking” and said, “The family believed in the Congress ideology and had a familial relationship with Congress. So it is difficult to understand what the reason could be.”