RSP leader sends red signal to BJP

Desperate for a ministerial berth in the state government, Mahadev Jankar, president of Rashtriya Samaj Party (RSP) which is a BJP ally has warned that the Dhangar community would go with the Congress if Pankaja Munde is not honoured with the post of chief minister. Mr Jankar had on Tuesday said he would back the Congress and ask its support to make Ms Munde the chief minister of the state, if the BJP did not give her the post. He was speaking to mediapersons at Jamkhed in Ahmendnagar district.

However, on Wednesday Mr Jankar claimed the media had misinterpreted him. “Late BJP leader Gopinath Munde used to call me his son and hence Pankaja Munde is my sister. If she becomes the chief minister, I will be very happy. It does not mean I will go with the Congress,” he said.

A senior BJP functionary said, it was a pressure tactic from Mr Jankar. The BJP member said that Mr Jankar was disappointed over the delay in inducting him into the state Cabinet. BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said the party had assured Mr Jankar of a berth.