Pune: Major Leaders, Including Ex-Mayors, Jump Ship from Ajit Pawar’s NCP to Sharad Pawar in Pimpri Chinchwad
Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Pimpri Chinchwad, 17th July 2024: Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is losing his grip on his stronghold in Pimpri Chinchwad as more than 20 key leaders have switched allegiance to Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Pimpri Chinchwad City President Ajit Gavhane, along with three other key leaders—Rahul Bhosale, Yash Sane, and Pankaj Bhalekar—resigned from their official party posts yesterday. They, along with over 20 other leaders, have left Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP and joined Sharad Pawar’s camp. This mass departure includes former mayors and corporators of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).
The list of leaders who have left Ajit Pawar’s NCP for Sharad Pawar’s NCP includes:
– Ajit Gavhane, former Pimpri Chinchwad City President, NCP (AP)
– Rahul Bhosale, former Pimpri Chinchwad Working President, NCP (AP)
– Hanumant Bhosale, former Mayor of PCMC
– Vaishali Ghodekar, former Mayor of PCMC
– Sameer Masulkar, ex-Corporator
– Pankaj Bhalekar, ex-Corporator
– Sameer Wabale, ex-Corporator
– Geeta Mancharkar, ex-Corporator
– Vaishali Ubale, ex-Corporator
– Shubhangi Borhade, ex-Corporator
– Vinaya Tapkir, ex-Corporator
– Sangeeta Tamhane, ex-Corporator
– Ravindra Sonawane (husband of late former corporator Pournima Sonawane)
– Yash Sane (son of late corporator Datta Sane)
– Vasant Borhate, ex-Corporator
– Sanjay Newale, ex-Corporator
– Praveen Bhalekar, ex-Corporator
– Nivritti Shinde, former Chairman, Board of Education, NCP (AP)
Additionally, Sanjay Udawant, Anuradha Gophane, Ghanashyam Khedekar, Tanaji Khade, Shashikiran Gawali, Sagar Borate, Vishal Aaher, Yuvraj Pawar, Nandu Tatya Shinde, and Sharad Bhalekar have reportedly also switched allegiance from Ajit Pawar’s faction.
Since the formation of Mahayuti in 2023, with Ajit Pawar joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena to become Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, numerous internal rifts and ego clashes have emerged. This unconventional alliance came as a shock to many, as the parties involved had significant differences of opinion, past animosities, and histories of blame games that had escalated to serious conflicts.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Mahayuti’s campaign was disappointing. The BJP won 9 seats, Eknath Shinde’s Sena secured 7, and Ajit’s NCP won 1, totaling 17 seats for Mahayuti out of 48 seats in Maharashtra. Before the elections, there were several disputes over seat allocations, particularly in Pimpri Chinchwad, where former MLA Vilas Lande demanded the Shirur Lok Sabha seat to contest. However, Ajit Pawar’s NCP overlooked Lande and allocated the seat to Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil, importing him from Shinde’s Shiv Sena to the NCP. This decision marked the beginning of discontent among members of Ajit Pawar’s NCP.
Additionally, Ajit Gavhane reportedly wishes to contest the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections from Bhosari. Mahayuti is expected to contest as a unified front, rather than independently. There is an unwritten rule in Mahayuti that seats with incumbent MLAs from Mahayuti parties will be retained by those parties for contesting. As Gavhane seeks to contest from Bhosari, currently held by BJP MLA Mahesh Landge, the seat will likely remain with him.
Unwilling to face a fate similar to Lande’s, Gavhane has shifted allegiance to Sharad Pawar’s side, where he reportedly stands a chance to contest from Bhosari. A decision on this matter is expected to be announced on 20th July, when Senior Pawar is scheduled to hold a meeting in Pimpri, which will be attended by these new party members.
