Pankaja Munde: ‘People Won’t Fall for Fake Narratives Again,’ Calls for Unity in BJP
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 4th November 2024: “We are contesting elections based on an ideology. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government came to power by betraying the people and has done nothing for them,” said BJP MLA Pankaja Munde at a press conference in Pune today.
Munde expressed confidence that voters will support development and that “a situation where no one can say who should silence whom will not happen again in the state.”
When asked about activist Manoj Jarange’s decision, Munde declined to comment directly, saying, “In a democracy, everyone has the right to contest or not contest elections.”
She emphasized that the BJP is not focused on electoral gains or losses, but rather on presenting its position to the people. “We are not contesting elections for their gains and losses; in democracy, the opposition presents its position.”
BJP city president Dheeraj Ghate, former MP Dr. Pritam Munde, party spokesperson Sandeep Khardekar, Amol Kavitkar, Hemant Lele, Pushkar Tuljapurkar, and Namdev Malwade were present at the press conference.
Munde continued, stating, “Diwali is over, Bhaubeej has passed, and now everyone is gearing up for the election. There are 21 seats in Pune district, 18 of which are with our Mahayuti alliance. We are now working hard to win all 21.”
She mentioned that the BJP is campaigning on the basis of various central and state government schemes, emphasizing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership is key as he enters his third term.
Reflecting on the results of the recent Lok Sabha elections, Munde admitted that the BJP did not achieve the expected success in Maharashtra, but expressed confidence that voters now see through the “fake narrative” that was promoted during the campaign. “People have supported the BJP in Haryana, and we expect the same result here in the state,” she added.
Munde also addressed the party’s previous setbacks, saying, “We won the last election as the largest party but were out of power for some time due to an unexpected alliance. However, we are now fully prepared for the elections.”
She praised the discipline within the BJP, noting that while party workers may make demands, they ultimately respect and follow the party’s decisions. She urged the younger generation not to rely on polarizing caste or religion for votes, stressing that the government has done significant work over the past two and a half years.
Speaking about the election preparations, Munde declared, “There is no dispute over any candidate in the Mahayuti alliance. Senior leaders will decide on the friendly contests. I am currently touring the state and will campaign wherever the party asks.”
