A sense of uneasiness is growing among the BJP cadres with the party leadership deciding to take certain tainted leaders from other parties into its fold. A few days after the entry of former ministers Babanrao Pachpute and VijayKumar Gavit, who face allegations of corruption, the news of former MNS leader Pravin Darekar switching side is raising the hackles of BJP workers. Darekar faces charges of corruption in a city bank.
Darekar, a close associate of MNS chief Raj Thackeray for two decades, resigned last week after he losing in assembly elections. Sources said that Darekar has already met top BJP state leaders with the help of Ram Kadam and his joining the party will be made official in a few days.
Sources said Darekar, who came in third position, blamed Raj Thackeray's leadership style of functioning and confusion over policies and agenda for the party's dismal performance. The MNS won just one seat, down from its 2009 tally of 13 seats.
Sources in MNS attributed Darekar's apparent move to a scam in the Mumbai District Central Co-operative Bank. Darekar is the chairman of the bank, which is facing serious allegations of financial irregularities involving crores of rupees and is currently being investigated by the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai police. The EOW has already arrested three people and has claimed that some bank officials too are under scrutiny and may be taken into custody.
While there is no response from the BJP as yet over allowing Darekar to join the party, cadres, particularly those from co-operative sector in Western Maharashtra, are upset. "On one hand, the party has promised to bring in reforms in the co-operative sector, while on the other, they are showing that BJP is a shelter for tainted leaders. BJP has the image of a corruption-free party and Modiji has always insisted on this aspect. How can the state leadership take this issue lightly," asked a BJP leader.
Another leader said Darekar's motive is very clear. "He is joining BJP to avoid getting implicated in the case. Even leaders like Gavit and Pachpute have been inducted in the party on the condition that they will be removed from the party if the charges are proved. Why take steps with self-doubt?"
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