In a significant political development ahead of the upcoming municipal elections in Maharashtra, Sangeeta Chendvankar, the prominent whistleblower who brought the Badlapur school sexual assault case to light, has joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
From Whistleblower to Political Candidate
Sangeeta Chendvankar was formally inducted into the NCP at a function held in Badlapur town on Tuesday. Prior to this move, she served as the head of the women's wing of Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in the same town. Her political journey took a notable turn after she rose to public prominence in August 2024 as the central figure exposing the harrowing Badlapur school case, where two four-year-old girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by a contractual sweeper.
Chendvankar played an instrumental role in mobilising the affected parents and ensuring the case received attention from both law enforcement and the wider public. Building on this activism, she later entered the electoral fray, contesting the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections from the Murbad constituency in Thane district on an MNS ticket. However, she was defeated in that contest.
A New Political Home Ahead of Civic Polls
Her switch to the Ajit Pawar-led NCP comes at a crucial juncture, with elections to various municipal corporations across the state scheduled for January 15. Explaining her decision to reporters after joining the party, Chendvankar stated, "I wanted to serve the citizens in the best possible manner, which I felt I could not do to my satisfaction recently. I chose the NCP family where I believe I can perform better."
Welcomed as a 'Ranaragini'
Local NCP functionary Ashish Damle warmly welcomed Chendvankar into the party fold, describing her as a "Ranaragini" (warrior woman) of Badlapur. In his comments to PTI, Damle highlighted her consistent fight against injustice and her advocacy on critical citizen issues. "Sangeeta has consistently fought against injustice and taken up critical citizen issues. Her entry is a major asset to our party as we work towards the town's development as a team," Damle said.
This induction is seen as a strategic move by the NCP to strengthen its local cadre with a known social activist, especially in the context of the impending civic polls, where local issues and credible faces hold significant sway with the electorate.
