Mumbai: Speculation was rife in political circles about MP Pritam Munde's inclusion in the Union Cabinet expansion. As it settles, BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Marathwada region Doctor Bhagwat Karad was handed duties as a Union Minister over Pritam in the Modi cabinet.
This has angered Munde supporters as more than 70 BJP workers submitted their resignations today. Amidst the resignation drive conducted by Pritam Munde's supporters, her sister and BJP's national general secretary Pankaja Munde met angry supporters in Mumbai and rejected their resignations.
Addressing the supporters, Pankaja Munde said that she does not believe in the "politics of pressure for the post".
There was speculation that PM Modi would give a berth to MP Pritam Munde in the Union Cabinet expansion. But Dr. Bhagwat Karad, who comes from Marathwada in Maharashtra and from Vanjari community, was made Minister of State for Finance in the Modi government.
Thereafter the resentment among Munde supporters intensified. As supporters working in more than 70 different positions resigned questions were raised if Pankaja Munde was also upset.
Thwarting all speculations, Pankaja Munde rejected the resignation of her supporters, saying that she advocates "politics of struggle" like her father Gopinath Munde and will continue to do so.
Pankaja said that neither she nor Pritam ever demanded a ministerial post but some people deliberately spread rumors about the ministership demand from Munde which has now angered their supporters.
Rejecting the speculation of leaving the party, Pankaja said "PM Modi, Amit Shah, and JP Nadda are their leaders. The question of leaving the party after putting in hard work does not even arise."