In a dramatic turn of events on Monday night, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi dialled former Congress MLA Rahul Bondre, who has represented the Chikhli Assembly seat in Buldhana district of western Vidarbha, just before he was due to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

On the call, connected by Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal, Rahul Gandhi reportedly urged Rahul Bondre not to switch parties. Sapkal had asked Gandhi to speak with Bondre.

Rahul Bondre was set to join the BJP on Tuesday in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

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Bondre, an old Congressman, has represented the Chikhli constituency for two terms. BJP MLA Shweta Mahale currently represents the seat. Earlier on Monday, Shweta Mahale welcomed Bondre’s decision to join the BJP, saying he has now adopted the party’s Hindutva ideology.

‘To win, you must lose’: What Gandhi told Bondre

On the phone call, Rahul Gandhi assured Bondre that the party not only stands with him, but will extend every possible help to counter the BJP’s intimidating tactics.

When Bondre told him about his recent losses, Gandhi told him, “To win, you must lose sometimes.”

Bondre, visibly emotional, said he was overwhelmed to receive a call from Gandhi. “Now that you have called, I will stand with you in this fight, no matter how much I will have to lose,” Bondre told Gandhi on the phone.

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Later that day, Bondre posted on his social media handle that he would not be joining the BJP. He said, “Ready to sacrifice everything in this fight standing with Rahul Gandhi.”