Gopichand Padalkar has always been critical of Sharad Pawar and his family. He believes that the Pawars didn’t do anything for the OBC community in Maharashtra, and played politics for their own benefit. (Photo: X @GopichandP_MLC)
Gopichand Padalkar posted on social media that he is ‘Dangar’ first and BJP MLC later, leading to a buzz that he is thinking of quitting his post. He had earlier raised the demand for reservation of Dangars in the ST category before Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis
BJP leader and Member of Legislative Council Gopichand Padalkar’s latest post on social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) has become the talk of the town. “I am first ‘Dhangar’ and then BJP MLC,” wrote Padalkar on ‘X’.
Now, questions are being raised whether Padalkar, who is ‘Dhangar’ face of the BJP in Maharashtra, contemplating to quit as MLC. A few days ago, he had written a letter to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for ‘Dhangar’ reservation in the Scheduled Tribe category. But when he was asked why didn’t he write a letter to another Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, in reply, Padalkar referred to him as ‘wolf’.
The repercussions of his comments were seen when Ajit Pawar supporters protested against Padalkar in Maval constituency of Pune district, and threatened to beat him wherever he will be seen. This has sparked a row within the ‘Mahayuti’ – Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, BJP, NCP (Ajit Pawar faction).
Padalkar has always remained critical of Sharad Pawar and his family. He believes that the Pawars didn’t do anything for the OBC community in Maharashtra, and played politics for their own benefit.
Padalkar had contested the last state assembly elections against Ajit Pawar from Baramati but lost badly. After his ‘wolf’ remark, Padalkar chose to call himself ‘Dhangar’ first and BJP MLC later on ‘X’, underlining the soaring temperatures between him and Pawar.
Fadnavis, however, has reprimanded Padalkar for making derogatory remarks against Ajit Pawar. “Padalkar’s remarks are inappropriate. Making such remarks is wrong. The workers and leaders of all three alliance partners should respect each other and avoid making these remarks,” Fadnavis told media on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and MLA from Konkan, Nitesh Rane, has come out in support of Padalkar. Rane posted on his ‘X’ account, “When Ajit Pawar was in Mahavikas Aghadi, Sanjay Raut used to criticise him openly. He had written editorial on Saamana against Ajit Dada. Whose blessing Raut was having? Why there are different set of rules for Gopichand Padalkar and Sanjay Raut?”
