Controversial comment on Balasaheb Thorat's daughter Jayashree Thorat sparks Congress protest in Maharashtra

A recent controversial comment by a BJP leader in the run-up to the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 has caused much furore. In the meeting held by the former BJP MP Sujay Vikhe Patil in Dhandarfal of Sangamner Taluka, a BJP speaker has allegedly made an objectionable remark about Jayashree Thorat, daughter of senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, which sparked the protests from the area Congress supporters.

Workers from Congress storm the streets, reacting to a statement

Sujay Vikhe Patil Rally turns violent, as one BJP leader passes an insulting comment on Jayashree Thorat, and his workers reacted in return with vehicles of the convoy getting burned, along with shattering some windshields.

Jayashree Thorat was campaigning for her father, Balasaheb Thorat, in Sangamner. She sat outside the police station to demand legal action. Tensions continue in Sangamner despite police registering a case against Vasant Deshmukh. Balasaheb Thorat is a former minister and current leader of opposition in Maharashtra who seeks the Congress ticket from the Sangamner constituency.

Background and Support from Political Figures

The NCP leader, Supriya Sule, said she strongly condemned the incident and asked for an apology for such language from the BJP leader. Jayashree Thorat, a doctor and very active in politics, has been prominent among the campaign workers of her father's election campaign to Maharashtra. She had, earlier, been noticed going about with Rahul Gandhi as part of his Bharat Jodo Yatra; she is also involved actively in youth engagement programmes with the Mahavikas Aghadi, an example being "Yuva Samvad Mela.".

Taking to social media, Sule slammed the derogatory remarks passed against Jayashree Thorat. "In Dhandarfal, BJP leader Vasant Deshmukh made a highly inappropriate comment about Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat's daughter, Jayashree Thorat. This behavior goes against Maharashtra's culture. It's unacceptable to make such offensive statements about a leader's daughter. Former MP Sujay Vikhe was also present at the event, appearing to indirectly endorse the comment. Such humiliation of women is unthinkable in Shivaji's Maharashtra. We condemn it roundly and hope better sense will prevail.

As the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 gains momentum, this controversy again throws light on respectful words in political rivalry. Congress workers continue to take notice as they demand an account and respect.