Fri Feb 21 09:46:21 UTC 2025: ## New Maharashtra Congress Chief Vows to Rebuild Party, Tackle BJP’s Divisive Politics
**Mumbai, February 21, 2025** – Newly appointed Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal has outlined his priorities in the wake of the party’s dismal electoral performance, emphasizing the need to rebuild internal party structure and counter the BJP’s divisive politics. Sapkal, the second leader from Vidarbha to hold the position, acknowledged the party’s challenges, including a fractured middle leadership and a lack of accountability.
In an exclusive interview with *The Hindu*, Sapkal dismissed claims of dwindling support, asserting that the Congress retains significant voter loyalty based on ideological alignment. He framed the party’s central challenge as restoring social harmony, disrupted by the BJP’s policies, and vowed to prioritize rebuilding the middle leadership by bringing in loyalists and leaders with strong grassroots support.
Addressing concerns about internal party strife, Sapkal insisted that the Maharashtra Congress was united and that reports of internal dissent were attempts to create a negative perception. He highlighted his strong support from both the national leadership and the party’s grassroots base.
Sapkal identified several key issues confronting Maharashtra: a lack of governance, high youth unemployment, farmer distress, and the BJP’s alleged attempts to dismantle Congress-era policies promoting decentralized governance. He pledged to address these issues, focusing on restoring accountability within the party and combating the BJP’s divisive tactics.
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