Maharashtra: BJP to appoint 50,000 'rugna sevaks' in state to serve patients

Chandrashekhar Bawankule. File Pic

Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Friday said the party will appoint 50,000 'rugna sevaks' to serve patients and people needing medical assistance, reported news agency PTI.

This initiative will be flagged off on Saturday on occasion of Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis' birthday, Chandrashekhar Bawankule told reporters.

A rugna sevak will be appointed at each of the 28,000 gram panchayats in Maharashtra and also in civic body wards in the state, he said. All of them will begin service of the people within a year, Chandrashekhar Bawankule added.

Referring to the loss of lives in the landlside at a village in Raigad district, Chandrashekhar Bawankule said BJP workers and supporters should refrain from putting up banners, posters, hoardings and firework display on Fadnavis' birthday.

Bawankule asked BJP workers to celebrate the birthday as 'seva din'.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar on Tuesday claimed that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sachin Ahir will one day switch over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Mungantiwar made the statement while speaking in the council when Ahir tried to interrupt him during a discussion in the upper house of the Maharashtra legislature.

"A day will come when Sachin Ahir will be with the BJP. I am not joking," said Sudhir Mungantiwar.

The opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator was not available for comment on Mungantiwar's claim.

Sachin Ahir, once the NCP's face in Mumbai, joined the Shiv Sena and supported the candidature of party leader Aaditya Thackeray from the Worli.

Ahir was later made a member of the legislative council.

(with inputs from PTI)