Key Leaders Resign from Ajit Pawar-led NCP, Join Sharad Pawar Faction Amid Internal Turmoil

Prominent Pimpri-Chinchwad Unit Leaders Step Down, Fueling Speculation of Shifts in Party Allegiances

In a remarkable shift for the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), four prominent leaders from the party’s Pimpri-Chinchwad unit have tendered their resignations and are poised to join the Sharad Pawar faction. This move follows the NCP’s lackluster showing in the recent Lok Sabha elections and comes just months ahead of the pivotal Maharashtra Assembly polls.

Ajit Gavahane, the head of NCP’s Pimpri-Chinchwad unit, Yash Sane, leader of the students’ wing, and former corporators Rahul Bhosale and Pankaj Bhalekar have stepped down from their positions. Sources indicate that Ajit Gavahane’s resignation was driven by his failed bid to secure a ticket for the Bhosari Assembly seat, which has been under the control of BJP MLA Mahesh Landge for the last two terms.

Pimpri-Chinchwad has traditionally been a bastion for the NCP. However, in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, which includes the NCP, surprised the ruling Mahayuti alliance by clinching 30 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP managed to win only one seat, Raigad, while the Sharad Pawar faction secured eight seats.

These resignations have ignited speculation about a possible realignment within the party. Reports suggest that several leaders from the Ajit Pawar camp are considering a return to the Sharad Pawar faction. Earlier this month, Sharad Pawar asserted that some MLAs from the breakaway faction had met with senior NCP leader Jayant Patil.

Furthermore, there are rumors that Maharashtra minister and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal might defect from Ajit Pawar’s camp. Bhujbal’s dissatisfaction reportedly arises from Ajit Pawar’s decision to nominate his wife, Sunetra, to the Rajya Sabha after her defeat in the Baramati Lok Sabha election to Supriya Sule. Bhujbal, a significant OBC leader, had been eyeing the Rajya Sabha seat and a subsequent Union Ministry post.

Sharad Pawar recently disclosed details of his meeting with Chhagan Bhujbal, where Bhujbal urged him to undertake actions beneficial to the state. Bhujbal also informed Pawar about an all-party meeting called by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to discuss the contentious issue of Maratha reservation, which the opposition MVA boycotted.

Pawar criticized the Maharashtra government for excluding the opposition from discussions with Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil. He stressed the importance of clarity on the commitments made to both the Maratha and OBC communities to maintain peace in the state. Bhujbal’s meeting with Pawar has further fueled rumors about his potential departure from the Ajit Pawar camp.

As the Maharashtra Assembly elections approach, the internal discord within the NCP and the shifting allegiances of its leaders will significantly influence the party’s prospects. The upcoming months will be critical for both factions as they navigate these challenging times.