GG News Bureau
Pune, 18th July. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) suffered a significant setback as 25 leaders, including Pimpri-Chinchwad unit chief Ajit Gavhane, resigned from the party and joined the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) or NCP(SP) on Wednesday.
This move comes ahead of the crucial Maharashtra assembly elections later this year. Alongside Gavhane, senior NCP leaders Rahul Bhosale, Pankaj Bhalekar, and Yash Sane also switched sides to NCP(SP) at Sharad Pawar’s residence in Pune.
“We have joined Sharad Pawar’s party because we believe only this party can lead Pimpri-Chinchwad and Maharashtra forward,” stated Gavhane.
The split in NCP last July saw Ajit Pawar and some MLAs joining the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, causing a division in the party. Gavhane criticized the BJP’s governance in Pimpri-Chinchwad, once an NCP stronghold, alleging mismanagement and corruption.
Gavhane expressed interest in contesting the upcoming state assembly elections from Bhosari constituency, currently held by BJP’s Mahesh Landge. Pimpri-Chinchwad comprises three assembly seats – Bhosari, Pimpri, and Chinchwad.
Responding to the defections, Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal commented, “Such movements are common before elections. People switch parties hoping for better prospects.”
With the Maharashtra assembly’s tenure set to end on November 26, the state gears up for elections amid internal challenges within NCP post its poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections.
Meanwhile, NCP(SP) working president Supriya Sule highlighted Sharad Pawar’s consistent efforts in Maharashtra’s development over the past six decades, attracting support even from the Opposition.
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