Setback For BJP As Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil Quits Party, Likely To Join Sharad Pawar's NCP

Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil is likely to join Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) in the coming days and is expected to run for the seat against current BJP MP Ranjeetsinh Naik Nimbalkar.

Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil.

Source : X/@DrmpMohite

In a major blow to BJP in Madha Lok Sabha constituency, party leader Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil on Friday resigned from the primary membership of the party, news agency ANI reported. Patil is likely to join Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) in the coming days and is expected to run for the seat against current BJP MP Ranjeetsinh Naik Nimbalkar. Dhairyasheel is the nephew of former deputy chief minister Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil and cousin of Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil, a BJP politician.

Maharashtra | BJP leader Dhairyasheel Mohite Patil resigned from the primary membership of the party.

He met Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar party chief Sharad Pawar yesterday/ pic.twitter.com/WQ5msV2lim

— ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2024

On Thursday, Patil met Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar party chief Sharad Pawar. Patil's supporters stated that he will join the NCP (SCP) over the weekend, following which his candidacy will be announced, Times of India (TOI) reported. If this is the case, it will be the BJP's second substantial defection in the state.

After being denied nomination, sitting BJP MP from Jalgaon, Unmesh Patil, resigned from the BJP last week to join the Shiv Sena (UBT). His aide, Karan Pawar, former BJP chief of Parola-Arandol assembly constituency, also joined Uddhav-led Sena with Patil. Pawar is now set to contest as an MVA candidate against Smita Wagh of BJP, who is the Mahayuti candidate from Jalgaon.

Some other BJP leaders had previously decided to contest as rebels and filed nominations as independent candidates after not being chosen by the Mahayuti. 

The Madha Lok Sabha seat was established in 2009 following delimitation. Sharad Pawar was elected as the first Member of Parliament for Madha in 2009, succeeded by his party colleague Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil in 2014. However, in 2019, the BJP secured victory in the constituency.