Special Correspondent
Pune: Former Congress MLA Ravindra Dhangekar has sparked fresh speculation about his political future by posting a WhatsApp status featuring a picture of himself wearing saffron attire, accompanied by the song “Shah Ka Rutba.” This move has reignited discussions about his possible defection.
A few days ago, Dhangekar had met Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, clarifying at the time that he had no plans to leave Congress. He had asserted that he was not joining Shinde’s Shiv Sena and had met the CM solely for personal reasons.
The Pune Congress unit is currently grappling with internal factionalism and political unrest. Recently, the party appointed observers and assistant observers for various assembly constituencies. However, Dhangekar was notably excluded from the list and was not assigned any responsibility, particularly for the Kasba constituency. Instead, the Congress leadership entrusted the role to senior party leader and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress General Secretary Abhay Chhajed. These observers are expected to hold meetings, organize events, and report on the party’s organizational status.
Dhangekar’s exclusion has reportedly left him disgruntled. Speculation is rife that the party leadership deliberately overlooked him due to rumors of his impending switch to Shiv Sena.
At the state level, the buzz around Shiv Sena’s “Operation Tiger”—a strategic campaign to lure opposition leaders—has intensified. State Industries Minister Uday Samant recently declared that this operation is being aggressively executed in Pune. Against this backdrop, discussions about Dhangekar’s potential defection have gained momentum. With several former MLAs, corporators, and key leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi switching sides to Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, the question now arises: Is Ravindra Dhangekar next?
