Chhota Rajan’s brother-in-law Rahul Walunj appointed vice president of BJP’s labour outfit.In a move that could snowball into a major embarrassment for the BJP, the party recently appointed underworld don Chhota Rajan’s brother-in-law Rahul Walunj the vicepresident of its labour outfit, the Rashtriya Ekjut Kamgar Sanghatna.Walunj, brother of Rajan’s wife Sujata, is in his early 40s and has no criminal cases against him. He was with the Shiv Sena before switching allegiance to the BJP.A few days ago, when Chhota Rajan was arrested in Indonesia, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that Maharashtra will seek his custody as “Rajan had committed many crimes in Maharashtra”.The BJP sources pointed out that Walunj was inducted into the party at least a month before Rajan’s arrest, during an event at the Palladium Hotel (now St Regis) in Lower Parel. He reports to Sudhakar Deshmukh, the BJP MLA from Nagpur, who heads the labour outfit.Walunj was not available for comment, but Deshmukh said that Walunj had his own identity and addressing him only as Rajan’s brotherin-law didn’t do him justice. “There is nothing wrong in having Rahul on board. He was earlier with the Shiv Sena and has now shifted base to the BJP-affiliated union. He has no criminal record and why shouldn’t he be given a chance,” Deshmukh said.Since his induction into the party a month ago, Walunj has been photographed with at least two high-profile BJP leaders. He was a part of an event where state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar was felicitated, and recently, Walunj was photographed welcoming Ram Shinde, the minister of state of home, at an event.Mungantiwar told this newspaper that he was not aware of Walunj’s background. “Being felicitated by party workers is common and it is done in good faith,” he said.The BJP sources said that Walunj has a strong presence in the Maharashtra labour sector, where Shiv Sena is calling the shots. “The BJP is trying to consolidate its presence in the labour sector, in which its ally Shiv Sena has a formidable presence. The party needs leaders who have the courage to take on rival labour unions,” a BJP source said.The political rivals, however, are already accusing the BJP of doublespeak. Preeti Sharma Menon, the national spokesperson of the AAP, said, “The BJP is talking about delivering clean politics but doesn’t honour the same.”