Padmakar Valvi Joins BJP: Setback to Maharashtra Congress as Former Minister Joins Bharatiya Janata Party (Watch Video)
Padmakar Valvi was a popular face of the Congress Party in Nandurbar, a tribal-dominated district. Valvi has been a three-time MLA from Nandurbar.
Mumbai, March 13: In a big blow to the Congress in Mahrashtra, senior party leader Padmakar Valvi on Wednesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in the presence of state BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule and party leader Ashok Chavan, in Mumbai.
Valvi's shift to the BJP took place at a time when Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra reached Maharashtra's Nandurbar on Tuesday. Arvind Kejriwal Slams BJP Govt Over CAA, Says 'People Across Country Want Citizen Amendment Act To Be Withdrawn' (Watch Video).
Valvi was a popular face of the Congress Party in Nandurbar, a tribal-dominated district. Valvi has been a three-time MLA from Nandurbar. Lok Sabha Elections, Andhra Pradesh Assembly Polls 2024: BJP, TDP and JSP Finalise Seat-Sharing Deal, Check Details Here.
Valvi was a strong Congress leader from North Maharashtra and has been a minister in the previous Congress-NCP government.
Padmakar Valvi Joins BJP
The Maharashtra Congress has seen a string of exits in recent days, the last one being a few weeks back when Basavaraj Patil joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil.
On February 21, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis felicitated and congratulated the BJP's newly elected Rajya Sabha members, including Congress turncoat Ashok Chavan.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in Mumbai on February 13.
In neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, former MLA Arunoday Choubey and Shivdayal Bagri joined the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in the state capital Bhopal
Earlier, Manish Khanduri, son of former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and veteran BJP leader Retd Major General Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, joined the BJP after resigning from Congress in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the BJP Mahanagar office.
Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Suresh Pachouri also joined the BJP in Bhopal.
(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)