Sudhakar Shrangare was inducted into the party in the presence of Congress leaders, former ministers Dileeprao Deshmukh and Amit Deshmukh
Sudhakar Shrangare. Pic/X
In a jolt to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former Lok Sabha MP Sudhakar Shrangare joined the Congress in Maharashtra's Latur district on Tuesday ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly election 2024, reported the PTI.
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In a message on social media, Sudhakar Shrangare said that he was committed to public welfare and prioritising Latur's development.
He said decision to join the Congress was motivated by his faith in the party's vision for a progressive future.
Shrangare was inducted into the party in the presence of Congress leaders, former ministers Dileeprao Deshmukh and Amit Deshmukh.
लोककल्याणासाठी सदैव तत्पर! लातूरच्या विकासाला प्राधान्य देत, काँग्रेस पक्षाच्या दूरदृष्टीवर विश्वास ठेवत, मा. दिलीपरावजी देशमुख व मा. अमितजी देशमुख यांच्या उपस्थितीत काँग्रेस पक्षात प्रवेश.#CongressParty #Latur #AmitDeshmukh #DilipraojiDeshmukh #Maharashtra@AmitV_Deshmukh pic.twitter.com/6C7HDWyB3Z
— Sudhakar Shrangare (@mpsshrangare) October 29, 2024
Shrangare's move is likely to impact the BJP's voter base in Latur district of Maharashtra, especially at the grassroots, as per the PTI.
Shrangare emerged victorious for the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but lost to the Congress's Dr Shivajirao Kalge in the 2024 general elections.
Polls for the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20, and votes will be counted on November 23.
BJP's Archana Patil Chakurkar files nomination from Latur city
Meanwhile, Archana Patil Chakurkar, daughter-in-law of veteran Congress leader Shivraj Patil Chakurkar, on Tuesday filed her nomination as BJP candidate from Latur city for the Maharashtra assembly election 2024.
Chakurkar, a prominent member of the Lingayat community here, left the Congress and joined the BJP in March.
Chakurkar, accompanied by prominent Mahayuti leaders, including former union minister Bhagwat Karad, State Minister Sanjay Bansode and Abhimanyu Pawar, among others, filed her nomination.
She will take on Congress's Amit Deshmukh, who has been MLA from Latur City since 2009. He was also the medical education minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray.
Maharashtra assembly polls will be held on November 20, while results will be declared on November 23.
(with PTI inputs)