Pune: Former Congress MLA from Kasba Peth Assembly constituency, Ravindra Dhangekar, officially joined Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena on Monday (March 10), leading to a wave of criticism from his former party leaders. Pune City Congress President Arvind Shinde accused him of switching sides due to personal interests, fear, and political temptations.
Arvind Shinde, while addressing the media, stated, "The Congress party has given everything to Ravindra Dhangekar. He was granted a ticket four times, even when there were other strong contenders. I had opposed his candidature, but the party chose him for strategic reasons. However, when I contested from Kasba on a Congress ticket, Dhangekar did not support me."
Shinde further accused Dhangekar of disloyalty, stating, "Even though he worked against the party, Congress still trusted him. But after becoming an MLA, he never participated in party activities. He neither attended protests nor meetings. His approach was that the party should serve him, but he had no intention of serving the party. Such individuals should not be welcomed in the party anymore."
According to Shinde, Dhangekar’s history shows a pattern of frequently switching parties. "We had complained several times that he did not attend meetings or protests, yet he was given multiple chances. He left the party for personal gains and not because of any ideological shift," he remarked.
Shinde also alleged that Dhangekar was facing issues related to government tenders and a dispute over Wakf Board land. "He knew that action was going to be taken against him, so he switched parties," Shinde claimed.
Adding to the controversy, a video from Dhangekar’s office has surfaced, allegedly discussing financial transactions. Referring to BJP leader Suresh Dhas’s remarks on "settlements," Shinde questioned whether Dhangekar was involved in such deals. "Is Pune’s Valmik Karad the mastermind behind such dealings? Is Ravindra Dhangekar Pune’s Valmik Karad?" he asked.