In a significant political development just weeks before crucial local body elections, the Congress party in Maharashtra has suffered a major setback. Pradnya Satav, a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and the widow of former Congress MP Rajiv Satav, resigned from her post and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
A High-Profile Defection
The joining ceremony took place in the presence of key BJP leaders, including Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan and state Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. Satav's move came hours after she submitted her resignation from the Upper House of the state legislature to the legislative secretariat. She reportedly spoke with Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde before tendering her resignation.
Pradnya Satav is a prominent figure from the Marathwada region, hailing from Hingoli district. She entered the legislative council in 2021, succeeding her late husband Rajiv Satav, who was a close confidant of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Following his death, she was appointed as the vice-president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC). She was renominated to the council in July 2024, and her term was slated to run until 2030.
Congress Reaction and Context
The defection has sent shockwaves through the Congress ranks. State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal had revealed a day earlier that Satav had been "incommunicado." The party's dismay was palpable in a social media post by Congress spokesperson Pooja Tripathi. She expressed heartbreak, recalling Rajiv Satav's "unflinching commitment to party values" and questioned the move, stating, "Party-hopping may win power, but it erodes trust."
This switch is particularly timed with the upcoming elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, scheduled for January 15, 2026, with vote counting set for the next day. Satav was not the only inductee; former MLA from Solapur district, Dilip Mane, also joined the BJP on the same day, amplifying the sense of momentum for the ruling party.
Political Implications
The departure of Pradnya Satav represents more than just a numerical loss for the Congress in the council. It carries symbolic weight, given her connection to a well-regarded Congress family and her position within the party's state leadership. Such defections in the run-up to elections can impact morale and influence voter perception in key regions.
For the BJP, securing a leader with grassroots connect in Marathwada and a legislative position is a strategic gain. It strengthens their narrative of attracting influential leaders from opposition camps ahead of the pivotal urban local body polls, which are often seen as a barometer of political sentiment in the state.
