Shiv Sena MP from Palghar, Dr. Rajendra Gavit, made a 'ghar vapsi' (homecoming) by rejoining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday.
Gavit, who previously served in the Congress and held the position of minister of state in Maharashtra, initially joined the BJP in 2018. He was subsequently elected to the Lok Sabha from the Palghar constituency in a by-election. In 2019, as part of an agreement, Gavit joined the Shiv Sena and successfully contested the Lok Sabha seat.
However, in a turn of events, Gavit rejoined the BJP in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
Gavit's decision to return to the BJP comes shortly after the party secured the Palghar seat during seat-sharing negotiations with Shiv Sena. Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis played a pivotal role in persuading Gavit to rejoin the BJP, following a nod from Shiv Sena chief leader and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Expressing gratitude towards the BJP and Deputy CM Fadnavis for welcoming him back into the party, Gavit pledged to work for the MahaYuti (grand alliance) in the state.
Deputy CM Fadnavis justified Gavit's reinduction into the BJP, citing his experience as an MP, legislator, and minister, as well as his potential to advance the party's agenda in the state.
Regarding criticisms from the Congress and other parties about minority representation in government schemes, Deputy CM Fadnavis rebutted, "In a number of schemes, including Prime Minister Awas Yojana, the Ujwala scheme, and the Toilet Scheme, Muslim and minority community members have been the beneficiaries. There is a difference in thinking. Congress claims the Muslims have the first right to the national resources, while the BJP says the poor have the first right." He accused the Congress of engaging in divisive politics.
Fadnavis also echoed CM Eknath Shinde's assertion that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government had plotted to imprison him during its tenure. "It is true. The'supari' was given to many. A police commissioner in Mumbai was appointed to carry out this job. However, nothing happened. They could not touch me as I continued to work as the leader of the opposition," he remarked.
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