Pune: Ajit Pawar’s NCP Struggles for Relevance in Pimpri Chinchwad Amid Rising Discontent Among Former Corporators

Reported By Varad Bhatkhande

Pimpri Chinchwad, 4th October 2024: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Ajit Pawar, which once ruled the area, is now struggling for existence as more former corporators threaten to leave. They have decided that if they are not given the chance to contest the Chinchwad Constituency in the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Elections, they will join the Mahavikas Aghadi alliance to contest the elections. With a rift in Mahayuti becoming quite evident, the corporators have stated that they will meet Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the coming days.

Today in Tathawade, NCP’s former corporators held a meeting attended by Vitthal (aka Nana Kate), Vinod Nadhe, Moreshwar Bhondve, Mayur Kalate, Atul Shitole, Prashant Shitole, Kailas Barne, Usha Kale, and others. As the sitting MLA of Chinchwad is from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and according to Mahayuti’s policy, the party that has the MLA in a particular constituency will get that constituency to contest in the upcoming elections, this means that the BJP will secure Chinchwad. Due to this, uneasiness has arisen among the former corporators and office bearers of the NCP who wish to contest the Legislative Assembly Elections.

A few days ago, four former corporators warned that they would boycott the BJP’s campaign if the NCP did not receive the ticket for the Chinchwad seat. Despite this, the NCP did not take any notice. As a result, these former corporators also met senior leader Sharad Pawar. Today, these former corporators held a meeting in Tathawade, attended by most of the former corporators, including Nana Kate, who is currently the most probable candidate for the MLA position from the NCP in Chinchwad.

The former corporators, along with current and former office bearers, expressed that even though they worked diligently for the Lok Sabha Elections in Maval, there were allegations made by MP-elect Shrirang Barne that the NCP did not perform. They expressed concerns that this could happen again in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Elections. They voiced their frustration, asking, “Should we just work for the BJP in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation?” Following this, a resolution was passed to join the Mahavikas Aghadi if the NCP did not secure the Chinchwad seat.

Corporators Departures Signal Trouble for Ajit Pawar’s NCP

Yesterday, Bhausaheb Bhoir, a close aide of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, declared his intention to contest the upcoming elections independently. Frustrated by a lack of opportunities within the NCP, Bhoir cited past grievances, including being denied key positions despite 25 years of service and feeling overlooked in the 2023 byelections. He criticized Ajit Pawar for fostering corruption and poor governance, which he claims have led to issues in the city, such as inadequate water supply and increased crime. With Bhoir’s shocking decision yesterday, today’s corporators’ meeting, and the recent departures of Ajit Gavhane and others, the NCP’s poor performance in Pimpri Chinchwad shows no signs of stopping.