Maharashtra: Congress president calls out BJP 'witch' tactics of pressure, threats, and promises to pull members from other parties

Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal on Wednesday dismissed the BJP's claims of having a wide-ranging, strong leadership, and being the largest party, calling them “hollow”.

He criticised the saffron party for exerting pressure, issuing threats, and luring leaders and office bearers from other parties, instead of giving opportunities to its own workers, comparing the BJP to “a witch afflicted with the habit of consuming people from other political parties”.

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Speaking to the media in Pune, he explained that the Congress functioned under a united ideology, rather than as a collective of individual leaders, taking everyone along.

In that regard, he pointed out that the strength of the party did not diminish if someone left it.

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Acknowledging that the performance of the Congress in the Pune district “may not have been satisfactory”, Sapkal promised change in the near future.

He also expressed disappointment at those who leave the Congress deliberately, explaining that no amount of effort could hold them back, pointing out the irony of those elevated to higher positions—such as MLAs, Mps, and ministers—by the party, leaving it, and then claiming to be wronged.

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“They are now claiming to have been wronged, but many office bearers within the party are expressing that they too wish to be 'wronged' in such a manner,” he quipped. “It is the public and grassroots workers who will question those who abandoned the party.”

He also touched on the issue of liquor shop licences being awarded to certain companies, alleging that Pune’s Guardian Minister (Ajit Pawar) was behind the move. Since Pawar holds the Excise Department portfolio, and owns the ‘Tango’ liquor brand, “the conflict of interest here is clearly visible” Sapkal pointed out, demanding that Pawar's excise portfolio be taken away.  

India