Congress MLC Pradnya Satav Joins BJP Days Before Maharashtra Local Body Elections

Pradnya Satav, widow of late Congress leader Rajeev Satav and a sitting Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), resigned from the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, just days ahead of local body elections in the state. The defection has sent shockwaves through the Congress ranks, given her close ties to the party's top leadership through her late husband, who was considered a rising star and a confidant of Rahul Gandhi. Satav cited the desire to fulfill her husband's vision for Hingoli's development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's leadership as her primary reason for switching sides.

Satav formally joined the BJP in the presence of senior party leaders, stating that her local workers had been urging her to align with the ruling party's development agenda of "sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas, sabka prayas." Sources indicate that the BJP is likely to renominate her to the Legislative Council, ensuring continuity in her legislative role. Her move comes at a critical juncture, with Maharashtra gearing up for municipal corporation and local body polls, where the BJP aims to consolidate its position against a fragmented opposition.

Rajeev Satav, who passed away in 2021 due to Covid-related complications, had built a strong political legacy within the Congress, serving as National President of the Indian Youth Congress and Gujarat in-charge, where he played a key role in the party's improved performance in the 2017 assembly elections. The Congress high command had rehabilitated Pradnya Satav by appointing her as an MLC twice, including a full six-year term, often overriding other aspirants, in recognition of her husband's contributions and closeness to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, both of whom had expressed profound grief at his demise.

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Congress leaders have reacted with disappointment, describing the switch as unexpected and improper. Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole remarked that the party was unaware of any specific offers made by the BJP to Satav. While defections from Congress to BJP have become commonplace since 2014, often involving leaders facing legal cases or stalled careers, Satav's case stands out due to the preferential treatment she received within the party.

The timing of the defection underscores ongoing challenges for the Congress in retaining leaders amid the BJP's dominant position in Maharashtra politics. As local body elections approach, this high-profile switch is expected to boost BJP morale while highlighting internal vulnerabilities within the opposition alliance.

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