BJP worker sets himself on fire to welcome Nitin Gadkari

BJP president Nitin Gadkari was in for a shock when a party worker set himself on fire during a felicitation function at Solapur on Monday. Identified as Sunil Golconda, the partyman was rushed to Solapur Civil Hospital where he is under treatment.

Golconda, a worker from Barshi, has been in the race for the post of party president of that town. However, he was peeved about the activities of his opponents within the party who were allegedly creating hurdles on his way.

Besides Gadkari, some other senior party leaders were present at the function which was organised by the local BJP unit at
the Hutatma Smriti Mandir auditorium. Golconda set himself on fire and started rushing towards the dais, even as a stunned Gadkari and others watched him helplessly. Golconda initially raised pro-BJP slogans, but with the spreading fire he started yelling for help. The police personnel present and some partymen doused the flames and rushed him to the hospital.

Doctors at the hospital have announced his condition as stable.
Describing the incident as “shocking”, Gadkari ruled out his intervention on the matter and said that it would be resolved by the district party leadership.

There are two groups within the BJP in Solapur. While one is headed by ex-MP Subhash Deshmukh, the other is led by party MLA Vijaykumar Deshmukh. Followers of both these leaders were allegedly against Golconda becoming the president of the Barshi unit.   

The police have decided to file a case of attempt to suicide against Golconda.