Pankaja trying to 'blackmail' BJP after poll defeat: MP Kakade

BJP's associate Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kakade on Friday hit out at the saffron party's leader Pankaja Munde and said she was indulging in "blackmailing attempt" by blaming "others" for her defeat in the October Assembly polls in Maharashtra.

Addressing a rally in Beed district on the occasion of the birth anniversary of her father Gopinath Munde on Thursday, the former minister had said she was not unhappy with her party, but went on to add that the BJP was free to decide on her continuance in the party.

Pankaja Munde also referred to insinuations that she lost the Parli Assembly seat in Beed district to her cousin and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde because "some BJP leaders" didn't want her to win.

"She is trying to put the blame of her defeat on someone else's head and trying to gain something from the party.

"There is an attempt to blackmail the party to gain something," Kakade alleged, adding Pankaja Munde's statements had pained BJP workers.

"She spoke many things yesterday. Instead of speaking now, had she brought these into action in the last five years, she would have won by one lakh votes," he said.

Kakade said Munde had, during her speech, announced she would tour Maharashtra to expand the BJP's base.

Taking a swipe at the statement, Kakade said, "But the question is, if you could not handle your own constituency, despite being in charge of important portfolios in the last five years, what are you going to achieve now."
Khadse had said, "There were efforts to ensure Pankaja lost the election. It is my clear opinion that she did not lose the election, but it was planned and executed (by some others in the party)."