Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Rahul Bondre Drops BJP Switch After Rahul Gandhi Call
Rahul Bondre was planning to leave Congress and join the BJP.
He was expected to join the BJP at an event in Mumbai.
Before doing so, he spoke by phone with Rahul Gandhi.
Gandhi asked him not to make the mistake of leaving Congress.
Bondre then said he would stay with Congress, even if he lost everything.
Congress leaders said Bondre had faced pressure and cases.
They also accused the BJP of trying to weaken its political opponents.
The articles do not include a response from the BJP to these accusations.
Bondre had earlier announced his intention to leave Congress in a Facebook post.
Former Congress MLA Rahul Bondre abandoned plans to join the BJP after speaking with Rahul Gandhi.
Bondre had been scheduled to join the Bharatiya Janata Party in Mumbai alongside Devendra Fadnavis and Ravindra Chavan.
Bondre said he would continue working for Congress despite the difficulties he had faced.
Congress leaders alleged that pressure and false cases had been used against Bondre.
Rahul Gandhi urged Bondre not to leave, saying setbacks could precede victory.
- Who
- Former Congress MLA Rahul Bondre, Rahul Gandhi, and Maharashtra Congress and BJP leaders.
- What
- Rahul Bondre withdrew his reported plan to join the Bharatiya Janata Party after speaking with Rahul Gandhi.
- When
- Bondre changed his decision on Tuesday; the planned BJP induction was to take place soon.
- Where
- The proposed joining event was scheduled in Mumbai; Bondre represented Chikhli in Buldhana district.
- Why
- Bondre said he would remain with Congress after Gandhi appealed to him, while Congress leaders alleged pressure and false cases had influenced his decision to leave.
Congress Allegations
Reported BJP Switch Plan
Why Bondre considered leaving
Congress Allegations
Congress leaders Vijay Wadettiwar, Yashomati Thakur, and Harshwardhan Sapkal alleged that Bondre was pressured, threatened, or targeted with false cases to encourage defection.
Reported BJP Switch Plan
Bondre had publicly announced his intention to quit Congress and was scheduled to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, but the articles do not provide a BJP explanation for the move.
Political response
Congress Allegations
Congress leaders said Gandhi’s support gave Bondre the courage to remain with Congress and accused the BJP of trying to eliminate opposition through defections and cases.
Reported BJP Switch Plan
The reported BJP induction was to take place in the presence of Devendra Fadnavis and Ravindra Chavan; no direct BJP response to the allegations is included.
- Politician
- Rahul Bondre, a former Congress MLA, represented the Chikhli assembly constituency.
- Initial plan
- Bondre was scheduled to join the Bharatiya Janata Party in Mumbai.
- Planned attendees
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP president Ravindra Chavan were expected to be present.
- Intervention
- Rahul Gandhi spoke with Bondre by telephone and urged him not to leave Congress.
- Bondre’s decision
- Bondre said he would continue working with and for Congress despite his difficulties.
- Congress allegations
- Congress leaders alleged that Bondre faced pressure and that false cases had been filed against him.
- Earlier announcement
- Bondre had announced his intention to quit Congress in a Facebook post.