Congress says ex-MLA pressured to join BJP, refused after Rahul Gandhi’s intervention

The Maharashtra Congress has alleged that its former MLA, Rahul Bondre, was pressured to join the ruling BJP and was targeted by police notices related to his educational institution after he decided against switching parties.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi personally called Mr Bondre, assured him of support and advised him to fight fearlessly, after which he decided not to join the BJP, the opposition party said in a post on X on Sunday (Oct 19, 2026).

The Congress said it stood firmly behind Mr. Bondre, a former MLA from Chikhli in Buldhana district of the Vidarbha region, and would continue to fight against what it described as injustice, repression and politics of coercion. It also released a copy of the recent police notice to Mr. Bondre about his educational institution in Chikhli.

The BJP was issuing notices to Mr. Bondre because he had decided to continue his political struggle, the Congress alleged. “Rahul Bondre will not be intimidated nor will he yield to pressure and will not stop his fight,” it said.

Mr Bondre had earlier dropped his plan to join the BJP on September 22, 2026 after a telephone conversation with Mr Gandhi and said he would continue to work for the Congress and fight alongside the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, despite the difficulties he faced. Congress presidents Vijay Wadettiwar and Yashomati Thakur then alleged that Mr. Bondre had been pressured and that cases had been filed against him.

Published – 19 Oct 2026 10:47 IST