Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former MP Navneet Rana has issued a strong rebuttal to allegations of engaging in anti-party activities within Amravati's Vilas Nagar-Morabagh and Sai Nagar prabhags. On Thursday, she categorically stated that her loyalty to the BJP should not be questioned, addressing the controversy head-on during a public meeting.
Allegations and Counterclaims in Ward Campaigns
The controversy erupted after BJP candidate from Vilas Nagar-Morabagh, Rajesh Sahu Padda, appealed to Rana to stop dividing the party. He alleged she was campaigning for a candidate from her husband Ravi Rana's Yuva Swabhiman Party instead of supporting the official BJP nominee. Sahu claimed Rana's actions were retaliatory, stemming from his support for NCP candidate Sulabha Khodke during last year's assembly elections.
In a pointed remark, Sahu stated that Rana had visited his ward to inaugurate campaign offices for four BJP candidates but used the platform to campaign against him instead. The tension extended to Sai Nagar, where the Yuva Swabhiman Party candidate Sachin Bhende's campaign was inaugurated by Rana a couple of days ago. Bhende's main rival is BJP's Tushar Bhartiya, who faces allegations of playing a role in Rana's defeat in the last Lok Sabha election.
Rana's Firm Defence and Indirect Jibes
Addressing a gathering at Dussehra Maidan during guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule's public meeting, Navneet Rana presented a firm defence. She declared she wears the BJP's saffron colours with pride and addressed the recent controversies directly.
Regarding the Sai Nagar incident, Rana clarified her position, stating that nobody should expect her support if they work against the party candidate while remaining within the BJP fold. She also took an indirect swipe at the Khodke couple, Sulabha and Sanjay. "Those who were wary of using photos of PM Modi and CM Devendra Fadnavis on their banners are now flaunting them," Rana remarked, highlighting what she perceives as political opportunism.
Development Agenda Takes Center Stage
Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who presided over the rally, shifted the focus to the broader developmental agenda for the city. He emphasized that the election transcends party politics and is fundamentally about Amravati's progress.
Bawankule made a significant announcement, revealing that the BJP has 124 schemes ready for the city and that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has authorized him to spend Rs 785 crore on these projects. He issued a stark warning, stating that if the BJP does not come to power, the city would lose this substantial advantage and the poor in Amravati would suffer as a consequence.
Echoing this sentiment, Minister of State for School Education, Pankaj Bhoyar, urged citizens to cast their votes in favour of the BJP to ensure the continuation and advancement of developmental works in the region. The rally ultimately framed the upcoming election as a critical choice between securing planned development funds or risking their loss.
