Who Is Sangram Thopte? All You Need To Know About Ex-Congress MLA From Pune's Bhor Taluka Who Joined BJP

In a huge blow to the Congress party, former Bhor MLA Sangram Thopte on Tuesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with his supporters. He was welcomed into the saffron party fold by Maharashtra BJP chief and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and the party's working president Ravindra Chavan in Mumbai.

Sangram Thopte, Former Congress MLA From Pune District's Bhor Taluka, Joins BJPpic.twitter.com/AddYLqzy8P

— Pune First (@Pune_First) April 22, 2025

'My work and loyalty weren't recognised'

Speaking on the occasion, Thopte rued that his work and loyalty weren’t recognised by the Congress party. He said, "I was a hardcore Congressman. I worked for the party and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). But my work and loyalty weren’t recognised. My father and I struggled for the party to ensure the Congress ideology reached the grassroots."

Thopte said the BJP is the largest party in the country and works under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and hence, he has decided to join the fold. "I have known Fadnavis for several years, but I have never used that connection for politics," he added.

He had tendered his resignation to the state Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal on Saturday.

Huge Setback For Congress In Pune District: Former Bhor MLA Sangram Thopte To Join BJP On April 22 In Presence Of Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis In Mumbai@SangramThopate pic.twitter.com/qMFbtbUC1s

— Pune First (@Pune_First) April 20, 2025

'I wasn't allowed to rise within the party'

Addressing a rally in Bhor a few days ago, Thopte said it was the wish of his supporters, who feel that aligning with the ruling party is the only option to usher in growth in the constituency. "I have been upset since 2019, as I wasn't allowed to rise within the party. When MVA came to power, I thought I would be given a ministerial position, but I missed the opportunity. Then, Nana Patole resigned as the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker. I thought I would be given the opportunity, but again that did not happen… I was ignored even for the post of the Opposition leader," he said.

Thopte claimed that he lost the 2024 Assembly polls as the Congress failed to rally for him. "I requested several leaders to conduct a rally to support me during last year’s Assembly elections, but nobody came. After I lost the polls, no Congress leader bothered to even call me once," he added.

Real reason behind Thopte's party switch?

Meanwhile, it is being claimed that the reason behind Thopte's exit from the Congress is the financial trouble faced by his sugar factory. "His factory is in trouble, and he is not getting assistance from the Centre. The BJP wants him to leave Congress if he wants any kind of help," a Congress leader told IE.

Who is Sangram Thopte?

Thopte has represented the Bhor constituency thrice, winning in 2009, 2014, and 2019. However, he was defeated by NCP candidate Shankar Mandekar in the 2024 polls. This was seen as a major setback to the Thopte family in their bastion. His family is rooted in Congress tradition. He is the son of party veteran Anantrao Thopte, who had represented Bhor six times.