In a significant political shift, around two dozen NCP office-bearers from Pimpri-Chinchwad have defected to Sharad Pawar’s faction, marking a setback for Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar ahead of crucial elections.
On Wednesday, Sharad Pawar personally welcomed the new members, which included 20 former municipal corporators, at a small ceremony held at his residence.
He presented them with party flags, stoles, and his blessings in the presence of other NCP leaders, symbolizing their formal induction into the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction).
Among those who switched allegiance are prominent figures such as former NCP city president Ajit Gavhane, executive president Rahul Bhosale, student wing chief Yash Sane, and Bhosari assembly seat head Pankaj Bhalekar.
Their decision followed the submission of resignation letters to NCP state president Sunil Tatkare, with Sane also informing the NCP Student Wing president, Prashant Kadam, before making the leap.
This shift comes just days before Sharad Pawar’s scheduled rally in Pimpri-Chinchwad on 20 July, heightening speculation that more NCP leaders from the Pune district may follow suit as the state Assembly elections loom just three months away.
Sources indicate that many of the defectors, including Gavhane, were dissatisfied with the lack of NCP tickets for the Lok Sabha polls and harbored little hope for upcoming Assembly elections within the party, prompting their switch to the NCP (SP).
The exodus of these office-bearers highlights the growing rift within the NCP and the potential for further instability in Ajit Pawar’s camp.
With the political landscape shifting rapidly, the implications of this move could resonate through the party dynamics leading up to the elections.
As the rivalry intensifies, the upcoming rally may serve as a pivotal moment for Sharad Pawar to consolidate his faction’s strength and potentially attract more disenchanted leaders from the NCP’s ranks.
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