Girish Bapat’s Photo in Congress Campaign Sparks Tension in Pune’s Political Arena

Pune, 23rd March 2024: Amid the Lok Sabha election fervour in Pune, a controversy has emerged as workers affiliated with Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar circulated a text on social media featuring the photograph of the late BJP MP Girish Bapat. The text read, ‘The one who MLA is from Kasba, is the MP of Pune’, prompting objections from Girish Bapat’s son, Gaurav Bapat. Gaurav criticized this move, suggesting that resorting to using BJP leaders’ photographs on the Congress candidate’s campaign materials indicates a lack of confidence in their own party’s leadership.

The electoral landscape in Pune sees former Mayor Muralidhar Mohol nominated by the Mahayuti, while Ravindra Dhangekar, MLA of Kasba Assembly Constituency, represents the Maha Vikas Aghadi. The contest between these two candidates is anticipated to be fierce, with both camps launching their election campaigns. However, tensions arose when BJP officials observed Dhangekar’s workers utilizing Girish Bapat’s photograph on social media platforms, leading to a confrontation between BJP and Congress office bearers. Gaurav Bapat also voiced his disapproval of this usage.

The act of resorting to BJP leaders’ photographs by Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar is interpreted as indicative of a defeatist mindset, as per Gaurav Bapat. He asserted that such actions would not occur if there was trust and faith in their party and its leadership.

Highlighting the significant role played by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in garnering support for BJP candidates nationwide, Bapat expressed confidence that Muralidhar Mohol, the Pune candidate, would secure victory by a substantial margin. He emphasized the need for intensified campaigning in the upcoming days.

In response, Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar clarified that the circulated text featuring Girish Bapat’s photograph was not disseminated through his official social media channels. He defended the usage by stating that Girish Bapat was a public figure and that sentiments expressed by activists in such content were not unwarranted.