In yet another setback for the Congress ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024, the party veteran Ravi Raja joined BJP on Thursday morning, October 31.
If reports are to be believed, after being denied a Congress ticket to run in the Sion Koliwada constituency in the state bypolls, the five-term corporator switched parties.
Raja stated that his 44 years of service to the party went unrecognised and despite his request for a ticket in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, the party selected a candidate for Sion Koliwada with no prior experience as an elected representative. “I have been a five-term corporator and deserved the ticket this election,” said Raja.
Senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the party’s Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar welcomed Raja to the saffron party with garlands and fanfare. He has been appointed as the has been appointed the Vice President of Mumbai BJP.
Ravi Raja had submitted his resignation to the congress leadership, and also posted the letter on his social media handle.
"I would firstly like to express my gratitude to all my senior leaders of the Congress Party & Hon. High Command for accepting my services for 44 years through different positions and posts. However, today on the 30th of October, 2024, I herewith submit my Resignation as a Member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), my primary membership from the Congress Party and Member of the Political Affairs Committee, MRCC, Mumbai," Ravi Raja wrote in his resignation.
"Since 1980 as a Youth Congress Member, I have served the party with utmost sincerity and dedication and today I am made to believe that my 44 years of service for the Congress party is not respected and hence I take this decision of resigning from my party post," his letter read.
What did Devendra Fadnavis say?
Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said that Raja joining the BJP would strengthen the party in Maharashtra.
Reacting to his induction into the BJP ahead of Maharashtra Elections 2024, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "Today Congress leader Ravi Raja has joined BJP. He is one of the strongest leaders and we believe that his joining in BJP will strengthen us. In Maharashtra, there is a positive environment in favour of Mahayuti. Yesterday we had a meeting where CM Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were present. We discussed cross-form issues. Our stand is very clear on Nawab Mallik, our president Ashish Shelar earlier cleared everything.. we are not going to give any favour to Nawab Malik."
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