Published 10:21 IST, October 20th 2019
Maharashtra Polls: BJP's Pankaja Munde faints during a campaign rally
BJP leader and state Women and Child Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde fainted on the dais at a campaign rally in Parli, Beed district of Maharashtra on Saturday.
At a campaign rally in Parli, Beed district of Maharashtra on Saturday, October 19, Women and Child Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde fainted on the dais. This incident took place after she delivered a 40-minute long emotional speech. Incidentally, it was her 5th public meeting at a stretch. Earlier, she addressed rallies at Kanherwadi, Jintur, Patoda, and Wadwani. Munde’s husband Amit Palwe, her sister and BJP Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Pritam Munde along with local party workers and security guards rushed to her help. After regaining consciousness, she was taken to a local private hospital. Rashtriya Samaj Paksha Chief Mahadev Jankar, who is the Minister of dairy development was also present on the dais.
'Taken a toll on her health'
BJP leader Ram Budhwant explained that Munde had a hectic poll schedule. He mentioned that she did not get enough sleep owing to the fact that her meetings continued until early in the morning. Furthermore, he requested her voters not to believe any rumours about her health.
He said, “The hectic poll schedule for over a fortnight coupled with extensive traveling led to certain uneasiness for her. We appeal to the party workers and voters not to believe any rumours associated with her health.” The BJP leader added, “Her daily schedule involves travel by air for campaigning for other party candidates in different parts of the state and also by road to campaign for herself. Inadequate sleep has become the order of the day as meetings with party workers continue till early in the morning. All this has taken a toll on her health.”
Munde is pitted against her estranged cousin and Nationalist Congress Party leader Dhananjay Munde from the Parli constituency in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The total strength of the Maharashtra Assembly is 288, out of which 9 seats are reserved for SC and 5 for the ST category. In total, Maharashtra has 8.94 crore registered voters, out of which 1.16 lakh are service voters. While the voting will take place on October 21, the results will be declared on October 24.
(With agency inputs)
Updated 10:53 IST, October 20th 2019