Pimpri Chinchwad: Moreshwar Bhondve’s Exit Weakens NCP, Joins Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena
Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Pimpri Chinchwad, 19th October 2024: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has faced another significant blow in Pimpri Chinchwad as key leader and former corporator Moreshwar Bhondve has left the party to join Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). Following the recent departures of former corporator Bhausaheb Bhoir and NCP Pimpri Chinchwad city President Ajit Gavhane, and with former MLA Vilas Lande and ex-corporator Vitthal Kate also reportedly on the verge of leaving, Bhondve’s exit has further weakened the NCP’s presence in the region.
Moreshwar Bhondve, who has served two terms as a corporator in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), had contested the 2014 Chinchwad Legislative Assembly election as an independent candidate and had aspirations to run again in the upcoming elections. Along with four other corporators, Bhondve had met with DCM Ajit Pawar to demand the Chinchwad Constituency for the NCP, as the seat was expected to go to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under the Mahayuti alliance. The group also consulted with NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar to explore their political options.
There is speculation that Shiv Sena (UBT) will contest the Chinchwad Constituency in the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections. Bhondve and his fellow corporators had previously indicated that they would switch to whichever party in the Mahavikas Aghadi alliance secured the Chinchwad seat. Now, Bhondve has officially joined Uddhav Sena and has stated that other corporators are likely to follow suit in the coming days.
In a statement following his move, Moreshwar Bhondve said, “I am willing to contest the Legislative Assembly elections. The NCP had requested the Chinchwad seat in the Mahayuti alliance, but there was no response from the leadership. Therefore, after discussing with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, I joined Shiv Sena.”
