PUNE: Over 25 NCP functionaries, including two former mayors, the leader of opposition and 20 former corporators – from Pimpri Chinchwad joined NCP (Sharad Pawar) in Pune on Wednesday. This group includes NCP’s Pimpri Chinchwad president Ajit Gavhane and working president Rahul Bhosale, who had resigned from their posts on Tuesday.
Though a major setback to Ajit Pawar, the Maharashtra deputy CM tried to downplay the issue saying such switchovers were expected ahead of assembly polls, both in MVA and Mahayuti.”Those aspiring for tickets will go to another party if they are unsure about getting a ticket,” Ajit said in Gadchiroli on Wednesday.
Political analysts said the shift in the political landscape of Pimpri Chinchwad is expected to impact Ajit Pawar, as it is his bastion and that the party has governed the municipal corporation for a decade with his support.
After NCP split last year, only one corporator and eight office-bearers remained with Sharad Pawar. However, a majority of them are now back with him after the Lok Sabha poll results.
Ajit Pawar’s faction is now left without any prominent figure to represent the party in Bhosari assembly constituency. It is also on shaky ground in Chinchwad assembly constituency with Nana Kate, the other prominent face of NCP, announcing he will contest the election at any cost even though the constituency has a sitting BJP MLA.
“There has been corruption since BJP began governing the civic body. We raised this issue with Ajit dada but nothing changed. Hence, we decided to quit the party,” Gavhane said.
Though a major setback to Ajit Pawar, the Maharashtra deputy CM tried to downplay the issue saying such switchovers were expected ahead of assembly polls, both in MVA and Mahayuti.”Those aspiring for tickets will go to another party if they are unsure about getting a ticket,” Ajit said in Gadchiroli on Wednesday.
Political analysts said the shift in the political landscape of Pimpri Chinchwad is expected to impact Ajit Pawar, as it is his bastion and that the party has governed the municipal corporation for a decade with his support.
After NCP split last year, only one corporator and eight office-bearers remained with Sharad Pawar. However, a majority of them are now back with him after the Lok Sabha poll results.
Ajit Pawar’s faction is now left without any prominent figure to represent the party in Bhosari assembly constituency. It is also on shaky ground in Chinchwad assembly constituency with Nana Kate, the other prominent face of NCP, announcing he will contest the election at any cost even though the constituency has a sitting BJP MLA.
“There has been corruption since BJP began governing the civic body. We raised this issue with Ajit dada but nothing changed. Hence, we decided to quit the party,” Gavhane said.