In a major upheaval in the politics of Maharashtra, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has given a huge blow to Ajit Pawar led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). BJP has included 13 former corporators of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in its camp, out of which at least 9 leaders have been associated with Ajit Pawar faction’s NCP. This big political development is being considered as a 440 volt shock for Ajit Pawar.
This show of strength was organized in Mumbai on Saturday, which was kept secret till Friday. Here, in the presence of BJP state president Ravindra Chavan and other senior leaders, these leaders took membership of the party. BJP clearly indicated that the recent reply to NCP’s decision to dislodge its three former corporators has now been given with manifold force.
Who joined BJP?
According to the Indian Express report, those who joined BJP include former mayor Sanjog Waghere (Shiv Sena Uddhav faction), former standing committee chairperson Usha Waghere (NCP), Prashant Shitole (NCP), Vinod Nade (NCP), former deputy mayor Prabhakar Waghere (NCP), former mayor Raju Misal (NCP), Amit Gawade, Meenaltai Yadav and Ravi Lande (all three Shiv Sena Uddhav faction), Sameer Masulkar and Navnath. Jagtap (NCP). Apart from this, Sadhguru Kadam, former Congress corporator and brother of Pimpri-Chinchwad Congress President Kailash Kadam, has also joined BJP.
What is BJP saying?
BJP leaders claim that all this is a decision taken at the local level and Mahesh Lande is getting the full support of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and State President Ravindra Chavan in this. Meanwhile, Pimpri-Chinchwad BJP President Shatrughan Kate said that all the former corporators have come to the party voluntarily and more may join in the future.
What does NCP say?
This development has created panic in the NCP camp. NCP state president Sunil Tatkare said that this issue was discussed with the BJP leadership earlier also and both the parties had agreed not to break each other’s leaders, but now there is a need to discuss it again.
Meanwhile, Pimpri-Chinchwad NCP President Yogesh Bahal said that leaders keep coming and going, the real decision is taken by the public. He claimed that NCP will also give a political answer to BJP.
Now the question is being raised in the political circles that what strategy will Ajit Pawar, who is facing constant defeat and pressure, adopt next? Will he again move closer to his uncle and NCP chief Sharad Pawar to strengthen his position, or will he remain firmly on a different path… the answer to this will be decided by the politics of Maharashtra in the coming days.
