Overview

• Chandrashekhar Bawankule initially claimed he was unaware of Badgujar’s induction before formally welcoming him at the party office in Mumbai.
• Girish Mahajan pressed ahead with the swearing-in ceremony despite vocal resistance from Nashik West MLA Seema Hiray and other local BJP leaders.
• Objections center on Badgujar’s alleged underworld ties to Salim Kutta and multiple pending criminal cases.
• Badgujar and former minister Babanrao Gholap were brought in to bolster BJP’s Nashik foothold ahead of municipal and civic polls.
• Maharashtra Congress chief Harshawardhan Sapkal condemned the move as evidence of lax candidate vetting on the eve of local elections.