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Mumbai, January 26, 2026 : Prominent leaders from the Maharashtra Congress have voiced strong opposition following the announcement to confer the Padma Bhushan on former state governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. Harshwardhan Sapkal and Varsha Gaikwad characterized the decision as a direct affront to the people of the state, citing a controversial tenure that they claim was marked by frequent disrespect toward constitutional boundaries and cultural sentiments.
Speaking after a Republic Day ceremony at the party headquarters, Sapkal asserted that the former governor had consistently undermined the dignity of his office. He shared a personal instance of protest, noting that he had previously turned down an invitation to receive an award from a Pune based social organization specifically because it was slated to be presented by Koshyari. According to the Congress chief, such an honor is misplaced for an individual whose actions frequently hurt the pride of the local population.
Mumbai Congress president and Lok Sabha member Varsha Gaikwad joined the criticism, alleging that the move is part of a broader pattern by the ruling party to diminish the significance of regional icons. She specifically pointed to past remarks made by the former governor concerning revered figures such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, and Savitribai Phule. Gaikwad argued that elevating someone who had publicly disrespected these national symbols constitutes a significant insult to the historical legacy of Maharashtra.
The tenure of the former governor, which spanned from late 2019 to early 2023, was frequently defined by political friction and public disagreements with the then state government. These latest reactions from the opposition highlight the enduring nature of those tensions, as leaders continue to question the criteria used for selecting recipients for the nation’s highest civilian honors.
