'No Matter Who The Candidate From Beed Is...': BJP's Pankaja Munde Flags Concerns Over Lok Sabha Stronghold

Pankaja Munde, who faced defeat in the 2019 Assembly elections in Parli against her cousin and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde, expressed uncertainty about her political stronghold Beed.

New Delhi: BJP leader Pankaja Munde raised concerns about her constituency following her party's alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar in Maharashtra, news agency PTI reported.

Munde, who faced defeat in the 2019 Assembly elections in Parli against her cousin and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde, expressed uncertainty about her political stronghold, especially now that her opponent is a minister in the Eknath Shinde government, which comprises both BJP and NCP members.

Munde made the remarks while interacting with the media at the BJP's Mumbai North office in Kandivali.

Addressing the situation regarding the Beed Lok Sabha seat, currently held by her sister Pritam Munde for two consecutive terms, Pankaja Munde acknowledged her sister's commendable work but acknowledged the shadow cast by the recent alliance with the NCP.

“She (Pritam Munde) has done a good job. But after the alliance with the NCP, naturally there is a question mark on my constituency,” PTI quoted Pankaja as saying.

She also emphasised her commitment to campaign vigorously, regardless of the candidate fielded in Beed, citing her extensive experience as a star campaigner in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

“But no matter who is the candidate from Beed, I will be the star campaigner. I have been a star campaigner in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan,” the news agency quoted the BJP leader as saying.

Munde, assigned the role of an observer by the BJP, elaborated on the party's process, indicating that it's a common practice for leaders to serve as observers for various constituencies. These observers then compile reports, which the party utilises to make decisions regarding candidate selection and other strategic matters.

A former state minister for Rural, Women and Child Development in the Devendra Fadnavis cabinet, Pankaja Munde stepped out of the shadows of her father and late prominent BJP leader Gopinath Munde to carve a niche for herself in the ruling party in the state as well as the Centre.