Welcoming the new entrants, state Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said their induction would strengthen the party ahead of the civic polls.
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Harshwardhan Sapkal on Tuesday urged voters to give the Congress a decisive mandate in the upcoming Dhule Municipal Corporation Elections, calling for single-party rule similar to the party's performance in the Lok Sabha polls.
Addressing a public meeting in Dhule, Sapkal said the Congress was a party that believed in unity in diversity, while accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of indulging in divisive politics by fuelling caste and religious differences. He said the Congress had delivered strong results in the Lok Sabha Elections and municipal polls and had sent Shobha Bachhav to Parliament from Dhule, and now deserved full control of the civic body.
Referring to the freedom struggle, Sapkal said the Congress had led the country's fight for independence, with countless people making sacrifices under its banner. In contrast, he alleged that the ideological predecessors of the BJP had aligned with the British during the freedom movement and had no role in the Quit India Movement. He also claimed that the Jana Sangh had once allied with the Muslim League to share power.
"The country belongs to everyone and not to any single community. Those who had no contribution to India's freedom are today in power," Sapkal said.
Taking a swipe at Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Congress leader accused him of betraying promises made to the people. Sapkal said Fadnavis had once vowed not to marry until Vidarbha was made a separate state and had ruled out any alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), but later went back on those commitments. He also alleged that promises related to farm loan waivers and financial assistance to women had not been fulfilled.
Sapkal further claimed that Fadnavis made more false promises than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, several leaders from various political parties joined the Congress in Dhule in Sapkal's presence. Among those who switched sides were three-time Samajwadi Party corporator Amin Patel, NCP leader and former deputy mayor Haji Shavval Ansari, Parvez Sheikh, Azhar Pathan, AIMIM leaders Gani Dollar and Juned Pathan, Shiv Sena's Prem Sonar and BJP's Murtuza Ansari.
Welcoming the new entrants, Sapkal said their induction would strengthen the Congress ahead of the civic polls.
Lok Sabha MP Dr Shobha Bachhav, senior Congress leaders Bhai Nagarale, Rajaram Panghavane, Dhule city Congress president Sabir Sheikh, Javed Farooqui, Dhule rural district Congress chief Pravinbapu Chaure, Dr Darbarsing Girase and a large number of party workers were present at the event.
