BJP expels North Maharashtra convenor Vijay Choudhary after audio clip leak

On Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expelled North Maharashtra convenor Vijay Choudhary due to reportedly objectionable remarks made in an audio clip. The audio clip allegedly contained disparaging comments about former BJP MP Heena Gavit and other senior political figures. This led to a meeting between State BJP president Ravindra Chavan and Nandurbar party leaders at the BJP headquarters in Mumbai, where the majority of local leaders, including Gavit, demanded Choudhary's immediate removal.

Following this, the BJP stripped Choudhary of all organizational positions and his primary membership.

The decision to expel Choudhary came after his arrest last week under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and other provisions related to the outrage of modesty. Numerous video clips circulating on social media allegedly show Choudhary making derogatory remarks about Gavit and questioning the BJP's support for Union Minister of State Raksha Khadse and her family background.

Gavit herself filed a police complaint against Choudhary. However, Choudhary has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that the audio clip was fabricated using artificial intelligence and that his voice was wrongly used. Choudhary, who has previously held positions as the Nandurbar district BJP president and Maharashtra BJP general secretary, maintains his innocence despite the mounting controversy.