Ahead of Maharashtra assembly polls, BJP's troubles grow as its leaders join NCP(SP)

Mumbai: When Ajit Pawar split the NCP and joined the ruling Mahayuti government in 2023, it was called a shrewd move which left almost the entire Opposition fragmented.

The BJP was supposed to have a cake walk in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. However, in a complete turnaround, the BJP and its allies faced a drubbing in the LS polls and the effects of inducting Ajit are being seen even in the upcoming assembly polls.

On Thursday, BJP leader Harshvardhan Patil announced that he had decided to quit the party and join the NCP(SP) soon. Patil, a former MLA from Indapur, was keen to contest the seat on a BJP ticket. However, since NCP (Ajit) has an MLA there, BJP could not get the seat. Patil's quitting the BJP highlights the problems of having Ajit in the BJP-


Earlier, BJP leader, Samarjeetsinh Ghatge quit the party and joined the NCP(SP,) as he did not get a ticket from the BJP from Kagal in Kolhapur as NCP (Ajit's) Hasan Mushrif is the candidate.

NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Friday indicated that more people from NCP(Ajit) and BJP may cross over to his party. Baban Shinde, the NCP(Ajit) MLA has also met Pawar Sr and sought a ticket for his son for Madha constituency.

Vilas Lande a leader from the Ajit camp wants to fight from the Bhosari seat. However, the seat is likely to go to BJP MLA Mahesh Landge, the former MLA met Sharad Pawar seeking a ticket to contest from Bhosari.