Overview

• Sudhakar Badgujar and former minister Babanrao Gholap formally joined the BJP at its Mumbai office on June 17, 2025.
• State party president Chandrashekhar Bawankule initially denied knowledge of the inductions but later personally welcomed both leaders.
• Local BJP figures, including Nashik West MLA Seema Hiray, criticized Badgujar’s entry over alleged underworld ties and pending criminal cases.
• Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis insisted there was no internal opposition and emphasized the party’s openness to new members who follow its rules.
• Party strategists view the defections as a key effort to bolster BJP’s position in Nashik ahead of local civic body elections later this year.