Pune: Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is experiencing defections within his faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Following the announcement that Pimpri-Chinchwad City President Ajit Gawhane would join the Sharad Pawar faction, two more leaders, State Vice President Vishal Wakadkar and Pimpri Assembly President Vishal Kalbhor, have also switched allegiances. Both leaders joined the Sharad Pawar faction in the presence of State President Jayant Patil.
Ajit Gawhane's meeting with former councilors and Sharad Pawar has created unrest among the NCP's city officials. Gawhane is expected to soon organize a gathering and officially join the Sharad Pawar faction along with several councilors.
Furthermore, youth leaders from the NCP had a discussion with MLA Rohit Pawar before Kalbhor and Wakadkar switched sides on Wednesday (July 3).
Wakadkar was previously the city president of the NCP youth wing, and Kalbhor was an active member of the youth executive committee at the state level. Kalbhor was also the current president of the NCP's Pimpri Assembly. Their departure marks the beginning of a potential exodus from the NCP.
Sharad Pawar had demonstrated his political acumen during the Lok Sabha elections, securing eight seats for his party. In the post-Loksabha election scenario, an increasing number of members from Ajit Pawar's faction are gravitating towards Sharad Pawar.
This growing support suggests that Sharad Pawar's faction is gaining momentum and could pose a significant challenge to Ajit Pawar's leadership.
Rohit Pawar, an MLA from Sharad Pawar's NCP, had claimed that there would be significant incoming support before the assembly elections. "Many leaders from the Mahayuti alliance will be left watching as 18 to 19 MLAs are in contact with Sharad Pawar and Jayant Patil. Sharad Pawar will decide who will be accepted," Rohit had claimed.
Recently, former BJP leader and ex-Union Minister Suryakanta Patil joined Sharad Pawar's NCP. Additionally, leaders from Ajit Pawar's faction in Kolhapur are reportedly in contact with Sharad Pawar.
