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5d ago

Sangram Thopte Joins BJP Despite Local Resistance

The former Congress MLA from Bhor officially entered the BJP in Mumbai, facing opposition from local party leaders.

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Thopte, who had represented the Bhor constituency between 2009, 2024 and 2019, was defeated by Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party candidate Shankar Mandekar in the 2024 assembly polls. (HT)
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Overview

  • Sangram Thopte, a three-time Congress MLA from Bhor, was formally inducted into the BJP on April 22, 2025, in Mumbai.
  • Thopte cited neglect within Congress and unfulfilled political aspirations since 2019 as reasons for his defection.
  • His induction was supported by senior BJP leaders Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Ravindra Chavan but opposed by local BJP leaders, including Bhor segment secretary Datta Jadhav.
  • Jadhav and other local BJP workers expressed concerns over Thopte’s entry, citing longstanding rivalries and challenges to party unity in the region.
  • Thopte’s political shift is seen as part of the BJP's strategy to consolidate power in Maharashtra ahead of upcoming elections, potentially reshaping the Bhor constituency’s political dynamics.