Ahead Of Assembly Polls In Maharashtra, Mahayuti Leaders Queue To Join Sharad Pawar's NCP

NCP leader Bhagyashree Atram, daughter of NCP minister Dharamrao Baba Atram, switched to Sharad Pawar’s camp, despite attempts by Ajit Pawar to dissuade her from crossing over to elder Pawar's party.

As the Maharashtra assembly elections draw nearer, the political landscape in the state is witnessing a shift as several leaders from the ruling Mahayuti alliance are joining Sharad Pawar's camp. 

Several leaders from the BJP and Ajit Pawar's NCP have crossed to the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) in the last six months.

Earlier on Thursday, NCP leader Bhagyashree Atram, the daughter of NCP minister Dharamrao Baba Atram, switched to Sharad Pawar’s camp, despite attempts by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to dissuade her from crossing over to elder Pawar's party.

Bhagyashree said she did not like the way her father changed his party leaving the elder Pawar. 

"I did not like the way my father changed his party (leaving the original Pawar-led party) and was working since he joined the Mahayuti (alliance) with the (Ajit breakaway outfit) NCP. He was giving false assurance of welfare to the public," Bhagyashree said, according to The Indian Express.

This development sparked speculation about a possible contest between Bhagyashri and her father, who is an MLA from Aheri, in the state assembly elections likely to be held in November. 

Last week, BJP leader Raje Samarjeetsinh Ghatge, related to the royal family of Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, also joined NCP- SP on September 4.

While addressing a rally at Kagal’s Gaibi Chowk, Ghatage expressed his gratitude towards Sharad Pawar and raised the issues affecting the area. 

"After coming to power, we will dismiss the Shaktipeeth project affecting villages and strengthen sugar factories to help farmers," Ghatage said.

In Satara, Sharad Pawar is eyeing to bring back Madan Bhosale, son of former Congress leader Prataprao Bhosale, into the NCP (SP) fold. Bhosale, who was a staunch opponent Pawar's politics and an MLA from Wai constituency in 2004, was marginalised by Makarand Patil, a close aide of Sharad Pawar. However, Patil is now in Ajit Pawar's camp and therefore the elder Pawar is trying hard to bring Madan Bhosale back into the fold.

The trouble doesn't seem to be ending for the Mahayuti alliance between Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP as it has given rise to conflicts and internal chaos over possible ticket allocation in various assembly seats. 

According to a report in The Hindu, the ruling coalition is likely to have problems in at least 60 to 70 seats, like Vadgaon Sheri, Bhosari, Maval, Sangol, Vai, Khanapur and Pathardi.

The defections to the NCP (SP) camp began earlier in April ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Dharyashil Mohite Patil, the nephew of former MP Vijaysinh Mohite Patil, joined the NCP (SP), after he was denied a ticket by the BJP. 

Similarly, Nilesh Lanke, an NCP MLA from the Parner constituency in Ahmednagar district, switched to elder Pawar's camp and was fielded from the Ahmednagar seat.Both Patil and Lanke defeated the BJP candidates in their respective constituencies.