Former BJP Maharashtra state president and current Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has penned an emotional open letter expressing his deep gratitude to party workers, leaders, and the people of Maharashtra. Shared via social media, the letter offers a reflective account of his political journey and achievements during his tenure as state president.
In his letter, Bawankule writes, “Thirty-five years ago, I entered public life as an ordinary worker without any political background. My work involved painting walls, distributing pamphlets, cycling from village to village, and spreading the party’s ideology among the common people. Today, when I look back from the position of BJP's state president, it still feels incredible.”
He assumed the role of state president on August 12, 2022, and described the position as both a privilege and a significant responsibility. “Stalwarts like Uttamraoji Patil, Gopinath Munde, Nitin Gadkari, Devendra Fadnavis, Pandurang Fundkar, and Sudhir Mungantiwar have held this post. For me, it was no less than a 'Shivdhanushya' (a challenging task). However, I was able to fulfill the role successfully due to the collective support of party workers,” he said.
Bawankule highlighted that during his tenure, he traveled across Maharashtra, working tirelessly to strengthen the party structure from the booth level to the top leadership, resulting in the BJP becoming the largest party in the state with over 1.5 crore members. He also reviewed the electoral performance during his presidency: “Two elections were held during this time. Although we did not achieve the desired results in the Lok Sabha elections, we learned important lessons and succeeded in the Assembly elections. The BJP-Mahayuti government returned to power under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis, and this victory is entirely due to the dedication of our party workers.”
Expressing admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he wrote, “It is my privilege to have worked under the leadership of Hon’ble Modiji. As state president, I contributed to his vision of a 'Developed India'. Now, as Revenue Minister, I am fortunate to continue that contribution.” Thanking the party’s national leadership, Bawankule said, “I am grateful to Hon’ble Modiji, Amit Shah, J. P. Nadda, Devendra Fadnavis, Nitin Gadkari, and all our senior leaders for the faith they placed in me. I have sincerely tried to live up to their expectations.”
He further added, “I could not have achieved anything without the support of our tireless workers, office bearers, and leaders. The love and affection showered upon me by the people of Maharashtra is my greatest asset.” Concluding the letter with an emotional note, he wrote, “I have always worked with the principle of ‘Nation first, then party, then self.’ I was a party worker and will always remain one. If I have unintentionally hurt anyone or made mistakes during my tenure as president, I offer my sincere apologies.”