Ramdas Athawale Dismisses Allegations of Poaching Opposition MPs

Challenging the opposition to provide concrete evidence, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Thursday dismissed claims that the National Democratic Alliance is purchasing lawmakers. Speaking in Rajkot, the minister insisted that recent defections from Shiv Sena and other factions stem from genuine support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership rather than financial inducement.

Editorial·June 18, 2026·reads: 378

Ramdas Athawale Dismisses Allegations of Poaching Opposition MPs

Athawale specifically targeted accusations leveled by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, labeling the narrative of poaching as entirely baseless. The minister’s comments arrive amid heightened speculation in Maharashtra regarding "Operation Tiger," a rumored maneuver involving a potential shift of seven UBT MPs toward the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction.

Beyond domestic politics, the minister addressed broader concerns, including the stability of West Asian geopolitics and its potential impact on local fuel prices. He suggested that as global tensions ease, there is room for a reduction in petrol and diesel costs. Turning to regional issues in Gujarat, Athawale committed to mediating between protesting farmers, the Union Power Ministry, and the Adani Group to secure fair compensation. He also addressed the NEET examination paper leak, calling the incident a failure of integrity that demands strict government intervention to protect student futures.