Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai: In a significant setback for Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), four prominent leaders from Maharashtra’s Pimpri Chinchwad have resigned. This comes in the wake of a poor performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The leaders are expected to join Sharad Pawar’s faction later this week.
Ajit Gavhane, the chief of NCP’s Pimpri-Chinchwad unit, is among those who have submitted their resignations to Ajit Pawar. Joining him are Yash Sane, the chief of the Pimpri Chinchwad Students’ Wing, and former corporators Rahul Bhosale and Pankaj Bhalekar.
These resignations have fueled speculation that some leaders in Ajit Pawar’s camp are looking to return to the fold of Sharad Pawar.
Last month, Sharad Pawar stated that those attempting to weaken his party would not be welcomed back. However, he expressed openness to accepting leaders who would help strengthen the organization and maintain the party’s image. “Those who wanted to weaken the party would not be taken in. But those leaders who would help strengthen the organization and not hurt the image of the party would be taken in,” he said.
The Pawar family split into two political factions following Ajit Pawar’s rebellion against his uncle and NCP founder, Sharad Pawar, in 2023. While Sharad Pawar stayed with the Opposition, Ajit Pawar joined the Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, securing the position of Deputy Chief Minister.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP, contesting as part of the BJP-led NDA, managed to secure only one seat in Raigad. In contrast, Sharad Pawar’s party won eight seats, underscoring a significant divide in their political fortunes.
This development adds to the ongoing political turmoil within the NCP and highlights the shifting allegiances among its leaders. The upcoming days will reveal how these changes impact the political landscape in Maharashtra.
