Mumbai: Continuing his efforts to strengthen the BRS in Maharashtra, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao along with his Cabinet will visit the renowned temple town of Pandharpur to pray at the Shri Vitthal Rukmini temple.
According to party sources, Rao will take darshan of Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur on June 27. He will also offer flowers to the palanquins of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram on this occasion.
Maharashtra BRS incharge and former MLA Shankar Anna Dhondge said Rao would interact with warkaris, devotees of Lord Vitthal, during the visit. He will go to Tuljapur to seek the blessing of Goddess Tulaja Bhavani.
To prepare a ground for the visit, the BRS has put up hoardings across the state highlighting his slogan “Ab ki baar, Kisan sarkar.” Posters have also been put up along the routes taking the palanquins to Pandharpur.
Political observers said that Rao’s Pandharpur visit was a smart move in his attempt at making a base in Maharashtra, as the warkaris arrive in the holy town in massive numbers at the culmination of their pilgrimage on Ashadhi Ekadashi, which falls on June 29 this year.
Speaking about the visit, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said there should not be any politics involved in it. “All are welcome to Pandharpur for taking the darshan of Lord Vitthal. But they should come with devotion in mind, not politics,” he said.
Major opposition parties in Maharashtra have taken note of Rao’s aggressive campaign in the state while dubbing the BRS as ‘BJP’s B Team.’
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that the BRS has been brought into the western state by the BJP. “Like the MNS and MIM, the BJP is trying to use the BRS in Maharashtra politics,” he said.
Speaking in Mumbai, leader of the opposition Ajit Pawar from the NCP said that BRS could be ignored. But he also issued a word of caution to Rao saying earlier even leaders like BSP chief Mayawati and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had failed to gain a foothold in Maharashtra.
