The company Rapido was taken on as a sponsor for the Pro-Govinda League 2025, an event organised by the Pratap Sarnaik Foundation, led by the son of Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik. This has drawn criticism, as Sarnaik had earlier ordered action against Rapido for operating illegally in Mumbai despite a ban on bike taxis.
The opposition has accused the minister of hypocrisy—feigning action against Rapido while simultaneously accepting sponsorship from the same company for a public event. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar have both raised objections.
Sarnaik had earlier taken initiative during the monsoon session of the legislature to highlight the illegal operations of Rapido and file cases. However, the fact that Rapido was later accepted as a sponsor for an event inaugurated by the minister himself has raised eyebrows.
Wadettiwar criticized the apparent contradiction, saying, "The Transport Minister should be congratulated for pretending to take action just to secure Rapido’s sponsorship." His comments came in response to widely circulated photos from the league's inauguration on social media.
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MLA Rohit Pawar added to the criticism by referencing a recent incident: “I was given a Rapido bike, and the minister personally stopped me and took action. It made headlines and created publicity. But now, the same company is sponsoring his event. Isn’t this an abuse of ministerial power?”
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