In another setback for the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, its Satara district unit chief Sanjeevraje Naik-Nimbalkar is set to join Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and Phaltan legislator Deepak Chavan. However, his elder brother and sitting legislator in the state assembly Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar decided to continue with the party but refused to campaign for the elections.
“We were saddened when there was a split in the NCP. We joined NCP led by Ajit Pawar with the aim of developing Phaltan Assembly constituency. We were in one group physically and emotionally with the NCP (SP). So now we have decided to follow our instincts and join the team led by Sharad Pawar,” said Nimbalkar.
The Naik-Nimbalkar royal family is influential in Satara and the surrounding region. Joining the NCP (SP) is a boost to the organization ahead of the Assembly elections. Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar officially has not joined NCP (SP), but he has a family as he is a NCP legislator in the legislative council and he has to serve as a legislator for four years out of a total term of six years. Otherwise you will face withdrawal.
Sanjeevraje said that it was a terrible experience to be a part of Mahayuti. “BJP leaders were trying in every possible way to get our party workers to abandon us and join them. Unfortunately, this was done with the support of BJP national leadership and our supporters and common citizens were suffering. It is time we decided to live with self-respect and confidence possible in NCP (SP), ” said Nimbalkar.
Legislator Deepak Chavan said, “I have never felt comfortable being a part of Mahayuti. I was not able to settle down there and I was restless but I stuck to it and did the work to develop the region.”
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Sharad Pawar managed to bring back the powerful Mohite-Patil family from Solapur and left the BJP and returned to his party. A few days ago, Samarjeetsinh Ghadge from Kolhapur and Harshwardhan Patil from Indapur also joined the NCP (SP).
Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories