Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister and a key leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), convened a meeting with party leaders from Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune following a significant setback for the local NCP leadership.
The meeting took place at Pune Circuit House, a day after 25 leaders, including Ajit Gavhane, the former unit chief of NCP in Pimpri-Chinchwad, decided to leave the party and join the faction led by Sharad Pawar within the NCP.
“We have joined Sharad Pawar’s party because we believe it can lead Pimpri-Chinchwad and Maharashtra forward,” said Ajit Gavhane, underscoring the reasons behind the defection.
These political developments occurred amidst internal dissent within the NCP following its poor performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections, where the party managed to secure only one seat. Reports had surfaced earlier alleging strained relations between Ajit Pawar and party leaders within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
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According to an RSS-affiliated publication ‘Vivek,’ voter sentiments in Maharashtra turned against the BJP due to its association with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, contributing to the BJP’s electoral setbacks. This shift is seen as a subtle message to Ajit Pawar to reconsider his alliance strategies within Maharashtra’s ruling bloc.
The NCP had previously witnessed a split in July last year when Ajit Pawar and several MLAs parted ways with Sharad Pawar to join the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition. Ajit Pawar subsequently took oath as deputy chief minister alongside other loyalist lawmakers.
As the Maharashtra assembly’s current term nears its end on November 26, all eyes are now on the forthcoming state elections, expected to shape the state’s political landscape amidst evolving alliances and strategic maneuvers.
This meeting highlights the ongoing political realignments and challenges within Maharashtra’s political sphere, underscoring the dynamics of loyalty and influence as parties prepare for the upcoming electoral battle.