Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar suffered a big blow after four top leaders of his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have quit and are now expected to join the political party led by Sharad Pawar later this week.
All the top leaders of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP were from Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Which 4 top leaders have quit Ajit Pawar’s NCP?
1 – Ajit Gavhane, who was the chief of NCP’s Pimpri-Chinchwad unit
2 – Yash Sane, who served as NCP Pimpri-Chinchwad Students’ Wing
3 – Rahul Bhosale, a former corporator
4 – Pankaj Bhalekar, also a former corporator
Why 4 top leaders of Ajit Pawar’s NCP have resigned?
The resignation of these four members came soon after an article in the RSS-linked magazine Organiser blamed Ajit Pawar-led NCP for the poor performance of BJP in Maharashtra. It also alleged about the lack of communication between the party, its workers and the NDA government in the western state.
Speaking to ANI, Gavhane said that he resigned on Tuesday and will be meeting all ex-corporators of another Vidhan Sabha constituency. “We will accordingly decide our upcoming strategy. We are going to take blessings of Pawar Sahab (Sharad Pawar). We will make a decision together,” he added.
More leaders to quit from Ajit Pawar’s faction?
A report by The Indian Express quoted Gavhane saying that NCP office-bearers, former corporators and leaders who are planning to quit the Ajit Pawar-led camp.
“They are all supporting me,” Gavhane added.
As per the report, Gavhane and others who have quit Ajit Pawar’s faction are slated to join Sharad Pawar-led NCP camp on July 20 in Pimpri-Chinchwad.
The leaders quitting Ajit Pawar’s camp also come amid speculation that some from his faction were willing to return to the Sharad Pawar fold ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls scheduled for later this year.
Earlier last month, Sharad Pawar had said that the doors were closed to those who sought to “weaken” his party, but he would accept those leaders who would not “hurt” the image of the party and could strengthen the organisation.
Sharad Pawar NCP vs Ajit Pawar NCP
The Pawar family split into two political parties after a rebellion by Ajit Pawar against his uncle and NCP founder Sharad Pawar in 2023.
Sharad Pawar remained in the Opposition camp, while Ajit Pawar joined the Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and was rewarded with the post of his deputy.
The ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra includes the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and NCP led by Ajit Pawar.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Mahayuti coalition secured win on 17 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.
Meanwhile, the opposition coalition in the state – Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) – comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray, and the faction of the NCP led by Sharad Pawar won 30 seats.
Ajit Pawar’s party contested on four Lok Sabha seats in the state but won on only one – Raigad, while the faction led by Sharad Pawar secured eight seats.
With inputs from agencies
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4 top leaders quit Ajit Pawar’s NCP, likely to join Sharad Pawar camp but why
