Rahul Gandhi Intervenes to Stop Rahul Bondre from Joining BJP

The Leader of Opposition's decision to intervene and stop Rahul Bondre, a two-term MLA, from switching parties has surprised many in the Congress, who say it is extremely rare.

Rahul Bondre was set to join the BJP on Tuesday in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. However, Rahul Gandhi intervened, assuring Bondre that the party not only stood with him but would extend every possible help to counter the BJP's 'intimidating tactics'.

Background on Rahul Bondre

Rahul Bondre is a two-term Congress MLA from Chikhli in western Vidarbha's Buldhana district. He won the seat in 2009 and 2014 but lost to BJP's Shweta Mahale in 2019 and 2024. One of the prominent and last remaining Lingayat faces of Maharashtra Congress, Bondre comes from a political family that has been loyal to the Congress for generations.

Bondre's fight with the BJP inevitably involved Fadnavis, as MLA Shweta Mahale's husband Vidyadhar Mahale is a senior official in the CM's office. Both Bondre and Mahale were involved in a war of words during the recently held local body polls.

Reasons Behind Rahul Gandhi's Intervention

The move of inducting Bondre in the BJP was also seen as an attempt to destabilise Sapkal who has been aggressively attacking the Mahayuti government in general and CM Fadnavis in particular. 'If a leader from his home district is leaving the Congress, fingers will be pointed at Sapkal. He will come under criticism for not being able to control his own district,' said a Congress leader privy to the developments within the party.

It was Bondre first who had congratulated Sapkal when he became the state Congress chief. For months, Sapkal was constantly supporting Bondre against the pressure tactics used on him. The night before Bondre's planned entry into the BJP, Sapkal requested Rahul Gandhi to have a word with him.

According to sources, Rahul Gandhi's intervention has raised Sapkal's stature within the organisation further, as it was seen as a rare instance of the party leader taking a personal interest in a district-level leader's decision.

It is worth noting that Rahul Gandhi's intervention has surprised many within the Congress party, as it is extremely rare for the party leader to intervene in such matters.