Gopinath Munde’s followers can form a new party, says Pankaja

Nashik: Environment and climate change minister Pankaja Munde on Sunday said the number Gopinath Munde's followers is so large, that they could form their own political party.
Pankaja Munde added she was accepted as a "leader" by people not because she was Gopinath Munde's daughter, but because she inherited and lived the senior Munde's thoughts and ideology.
"Even today, the clout of (Gopinath) Munde Saheb is such that a political party can be formed by bringing his followers together. That is the power among his followers," said Pankaja, who was in Nashik to attend two different programmes on Sunday.
"People who love (Gopinath) Munde love the values he preached and what he stood for. Munde Saheb was with the party from its birth, and he always remained loyal to it. I was not accepted because I am Gopinath Munde's daughter. I have cherished his values, and that is the reason people have accepted me as their leader," she said
The minister said she was in a fix when she was allotted the environment portfolio, wondering what she, as a mass politician, could do for the people who came to her demanding a solution. "I realised the importance of the ministry and now have decided to do the best for a greener state. I will ensure this is followed in totality. We will attempt to undo all the bad things done to nature and the rivers," said Pankaja.
The environment minister added that as far as her ministry is concerned, officials will no longer offer bouquets to welcome people for govt functions. "At a programme today, I was welcomed with seeds that, even if thrown away, have the power to germinate and shoot. I will take this thought further and ask all of our officials to replace the seeds with bouquets of books," Munde said.