Mumbai, Dec 18 (NationPress) In a significant setback for the Maharashtra Congress as the crucial municipal elections approach, Pradnya Rajeev Satav, a member of the Legislative Council, officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday.

Satav, who is the widow of the late prominent Congress figure Rajeev Satav—a close associate of Rahul Gandhi—made her transition to the BJP during a grand event at the party's Mumbai headquarters. This shift is perceived as a strategic achievement for the BJP in the Marathwada region, especially in Hingoli.

Earlier that same day, she resigned from her primary membership in Congress and also relinquished her position in the Legislative Council.

Upon joining the BJP, Satav declared, "I am committed to fostering development in my region under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. My choice stems from a vision of progress for Maharashtra."

Initially, she was elected unopposed to the Legislative Council in a by-election following the passing of Congress MLC Sharad Ranpise, with her term concluding on July 27, 2024. She was re-elected for a second six-year term in July 2024, which will last until July 2030.

Insiders have suggested that Satav felt increasingly "marginalised" within the local Congress unit in Hingoli over recent months.

Reports have surfaced indicating her dissatisfaction with the lack of administrative backing and the growing dominance of rival factions within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Responding to her departure, Vijay Wadettiwar, the Congress Legislature Party leader in the Assembly, characterized the move as a "moral and political betrayal."

He stated, "This is not merely a betrayal of the Congress party but a betrayal of the values and loyalty that the late Rajeev Satav embodied throughout his life."

Wadettiwar further noted that the party had consistently supported Pradnya Satav following her husband's untimely passing.

"The Congress party invested significantly in Pradnya Satav, making her an unopposed MLC and appointing her as State Vice President. Opting for power over principles just before the municipal elections reflects poorly," he added.

He also claimed that she had disregarded the profound connection her family held with the Gandhi family.

"Individuals who abandon the party that provided them with their identity merely for power will face consequences from the voters. The constituency of Hingoli will not forgive this betrayal," Wadettiwar concluded.

Political analysts suggest that this defection could weaken Congress in the Marathwada region, with Maharashtra preparing for elections across 29 municipal corporations, including Mumbai, Thane, and Nashik.

For the BJP, welcoming a member from a family historically linked to Congress leadership is being viewed as a significant symbolic victory aimed at undermining the morale of Congress supporters.