In a major setback to Ajit Pawar, four top leaders resigned from the NCP and are likely to join the faction led by Sharad Pawar later this week. The leaders who left the party include Pimpri-Chinchwad unit chief Ajit Gavahane, Pimpri student wing chief Yash Sane, as well as former corporators Rahul Bhosale and Pankaj Bhalekar.
Ajit Gavhane, the chief of NCP’s Pimpri-Chinchwad unit, sent his resignation letter to Ajit Pawar on Tuesday. A day later, he said “I resigned yesterday, today we will have a meeting with all ex-corporators of another Vidhan Sabha constituency. We will then decide on our upcoming strategy.”
It is believed that Gavahane resigned from the party after failing to secure a ticket for the Bhosari assembly constituency, for the polls scheduled to be held later this year. He met Ajit Pawar a few days ago to convince him that the NCP should contest the Bhosari seat, which has been BJP’s bastion twice.
Apart from Gavhane, Pimpri Chinchwad Students’ Wing chief Yash Sane and former corporators Rahul Bhosale and Pankaj Bhalekar have also quit NCP. It has been reported that all of them are likely to join the Sharad Pawar faction.
Notably, in June, Sharad Pawar had said he will not be accepting those who wanted to “weaken” his party, but will take in leaders who will not “hurt” his party’s image.
