Can’t depend on Modi wave in Assembly elections, says Pankaja Munde

I am being supported by senior party leaders in the absence of my father, Palwe said.

BJP leader Pankaja Munde Palwe in Pune on Thursday. (Source: Express photo by Pavan Khengre)

All set to start the second phase of her ‘Sangharsh Yatra’ from Friday, Pankaja Munde Palwe, the daughter of former Union minister, late Gopinath Munde, said that the saffron alliance cannot completely depend on the Modi wave during the state assembly elections. Party chief Amit Shah was right in conveying this, she said.

“It is true that the party cannot completely depend on the wave that was evident during Lok Sabha elections. It was upto the state leaders to keep the tempo of Lok Sabha elections while going for assembly elections. However, the fact that Modi is prime minister of the country will also make a big difference to the party’s performance,” she told reporters on Thursday when asked about alliance partner Shiv Sena and BJP chief Amit Shah warning the state party leaders not to completely rely on the Modi wave for assembly elections.

On the need to project the party leader as the chief ministerial candidate, she said it was not the culture of the state BJP to project any single person as the leader during the assembly elections, so this philosophy is being followed this time as well. “Even late Gopinath Munde did not project himself as the leader to hold some crucial post during the elections. We are not over confident but well prepared for assembly elections,” Palwe said.

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She clarified that her Sangharsh Yatra was not meant to project herself as the chief ministerial candidate as it would be political immature to do that. “I will be part of the state government and will take up whatever responsibility is given to me,” Palwe said.

She said struggle was part of her father’s life throughout his political career, including within the party. “I am not facing any struggle in the party. In fact, I am being supported by senior party leaders in the absence of my father,” Palwe added.

Reminding people about the contribution of her father in the mega alliance during the Lok Sabha elections, she said that it would continue during the assembly elections, as the party was committed to fulfilling the assurances made by her father to the various alliance partners.

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