Pune: CM Devendra Fadnavis Defends New Joinee Sudhakar Badgujar; Says Past Doesn’t Matter If One Wants to Join BJP

Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Chikhali, 18th June 2025: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) decision to induct Sudhakar Badgujar, who has been under fire for his alleged association with 1993 bomb blast convict Salim Kutta. Fadnavis said that an individual’s past does not matter if they wish to join the BJP, as long as they accept the party’s ideology and follow its rules.

Badgujar, formerly the Nashik unit chief of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), was previously accused of having links with Salim Kutta. In December 2023, BJP leaders, especially Nitesh Rane, raised the issue in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly by presenting videos and photos of Badgujar allegedly partying with Salim Kutta at a farmhouse in Nashik. BJP had then demanded a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into his alleged underworld ties, making it a high-profile controversy in the state.

Despite this, the BJP recently welcomed Badgujar into the party, a move that sparked criticism and even dissent from BJP’s own cadre in Nashik. The decision is being seen as a political move to strengthen the BJP’s local base ahead of municipal elections, even though it contradicts their earlier position. Reports also suggested that BJP Maharashtra President Chandrashekhar Bawankule was unaware of Badgujar’s induction and avoided commenting when asked by reporters.

Responding to the backlash, Fadnavis said, “Allegations were made against Sudhakar Badgujar for his association with Salim Kutta, and even Nitesh Rane had released a video. A case was filed, but after investigation, no action was taken. This was when he was part of another party and opposed us in the last elections. Now, he has shown interest in joining BJP. If anyone wants to join BJP, they are welcome. We don’t look at the past. Once they join, they must follow BJP’s rules and ideology.”