- By Vivek Raj
- Wed, 17 Jul 2024 02:19 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a major blow to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, around two dozen office-bearers from Pimpri-Chinchwad have switched allegiance to the Sharad Pawar-led faction. The defection was marked by a ceremonial welcome at Sharad Pawar's residence on Wednesday, where he personally greeted the new members with party flags, stoles, and his blessings.
Among the prominent figures who switched sides are former NCP city president Ajit Gavhane, executive president Rahul Bhosale, student wing chief Yash Sane, Bhosari assembly seat head Pankaj Bhalekar, and approximately 20 former municipal corporators and other unit heads. The move follows their submission of resignations to NCP state President Sunil Tatkare, with Sane having previously sent his resignation to NCP Student Wing President Prashant Kadam.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: Several Ajit Pawar-led NCP leaders and Corporators from Pimpri Chinchwad join Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SCP at his residence in Pune.
— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2024
NCP’s Pimpri-Chinchwad unit chief, Ajit Gavhane is also among the leaders who joined the party here. Three other senior leaders… pic.twitter.com/s71oyZl62w
This development has surfaced just ahead of Sharad Pawar's scheduled rally in Pimpri-Chinchwad on Saturday, July 20, indicating a shift in local party dynamics with the Maharashtra Assembly elections looming three months away. Sources from news agency IANS suggest more office-bearers from other parts of Pune district may follow suit.
The departing office-bearers cited reasons such as dissatisfaction over ticket distribution and dim prospects for the upcoming state Assembly elections under the NCP banner. Reports suggest that leaders like Gavhane were disappointed with their treatment during the Lok Sabha polls and therefore opted to join the NCP (Sharad Pawar) faction.
The internal discord within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) dates back to 2023 when Ajit Pawar broke away from his uncle Sharad Pawar, opting to align with the BJP-led NDA government in Maharashtra.
During the Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Pawar's faction contested within the NDA coalition, securing just one seat in Raigad, whereas Sharad Pawar's NCP bagged eight seats.
With Maharashtra gearing up for elections in October-November, Sharad Pawar recently expressed confidence in the opposition MVA coalition's prospects for a strong victory in the upcoming 288-member Maharashtra Assembly polls.
